AN 



HISTOEICAL SKETCH 



FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 

IN 

MARLBOROUGH, MASS,, 

WITH THE 

EXEKCISES AT THE CELEBRATION OF THE EIFTIETH 

ANNIVEESARY OF REY. SYLVESTER F. BUCKLIN's 

ORDINATIOX, AS PASTOR OF SAID CHIJRCH. 



By LEVI A> FIELD, 

PASTOB OF THE CHURCH. 







WORCESTER: 

HENRY J. HOWL AND, PRINTER, 

185 9. 



'3 



PEEFACE. 



Many an interesting chapter in New England history, 
is yet unwritten. The materials for such histories are to 
be found, partly in the recollections of the generation far 
advanced in years, and rapidly passing away ; and partly, 
in those piles of ancient pamphlets and manuscripts which 
are regarded as worthless, and therefore are left to be scat- 
tered and destroyed. Both these sources of information 
are constantly diminishing ; and already many a valuable 
paper or retentive memory, which might have thrown light 
^ some question of local history, is lost to us beyond 
reco- -^^y. It was the hope of gathering up and fixing in a 
.^ent form some of these scattered fragments and 
tioating traditions which have come down to us, that has 
led the writer to undertake this brief sketch of the church 
in this place. And the previous remarks have received a 
singularly forcible illustration, in the preparation of this 
Sketch. Scarcely had it been brought to a close, when the 
individual who was the most desirous of having it prepar- 
ed, and who furnished by far the largest amount of mate- 
rials, was suddenly removed by death. Had it been de- 
layed one year longer, some parts of it could never have 
been written. As an assistant in this work, no living per- 
son could supply his place. 



IV 

I wish in this connection to acknowledge my great in- 
debtedness to Rev. S. F. Bucklin, for many valuable sug- 
gestions, and also to Mrs. S. R. Long, for the communica- 
tion of some important facts ; to Rev. H. Alger, pastor of 
the West Church in this town, for the use of valuable pa- 
pers in his possession ; and to Rev. Dr. Allen of North- 
borough, for the privilege of examining some interesting 
manuscripts, and especially for the use of his " History of 
the town of Northborough." 

This sketch is a mere outline and nothing more. I can- 
not but hope that some measures may be taken to have a 
complete history of the town prepared. Such a work 
would involve considerable expense and a large amount of 
labor, and should receive encouragement if not assistance 
from the town. It is now nearly two hundred years since its 
Incorporation. Several sections have been set off from it, 
and erected into separate townships. Valuable materials 
are already at hand, and many more might be collected as 
the basis of such a history. And could a person of suf- 
ficient leisure and taste for such inquiries, be induced to 
gather them up and combine them into a simple narrative, 
it would furnish a record of no ordinary interest and value. 
Every year of delay will increase the difficulty of prepar- 
ing such a history ; because some valuable document may 
be destroyed, or some venerable father, learned in all our 
traditions, may be taken from us, and thus sources of in- 
formation may be lost which can never be regained. 

L. A. F. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



The Records of this Church, previous to the 
year 1700, have been irrecoverably lost. Its 
early history therefore, can never be fully writ- 
ten. The few incidents which we have been 
able to gather up from other sources of infor- 
mation, are probably nearly all that can now 
be collected of any great importance. That 
which is gone, and can never be restored, we 
must be content to lose. 

This Town was incorporated in the year 
1660, but the church was not organized till 
six years afterwards, in 1666. In the early 
settlements of the country, there were religious 
assemblies and preaching, often for several 
years, before a church was formed or a pastor 
ordained. The exact date of the formation of 
this church, cannot now be ascertained with 
certainty. But from the fact that churches 
were often organized at the time of the ordi- 
nation of the pastor, we may infer as most 
1* 



probable, that this church was gathered when 
the first minister was settled, Oct. 3, 1666. In 
1662, a rate was made of 12 pence per acre 
upon all house-lots for building a Meeting 
House; and in 1664, a rate of 3^ pence for 
finishing it. This House stood on the old 
Common, and was afterwards burnt by the 
Indians. The Common itself, which was the 
cause of much dispute, was purchased of an 
Indian named Anamaks. 

William Brimsmead was the first settled 
minister of this town. He was a native of 
Dorchester, and probably the son of John 
Brimsmead, who lived there in 1638. He was 
educated at Harvard College, but never re- 
ceived a degree. In consequence of the Col- 
lege term being lengthened from three to four 
years, the class to which he belonged did not 
graduate till the year 1648; but he, with six- 
teen others, left in 1647. It seems that meas- 
ures were early adopted in this place for main- 
taining public worship ; as Mr. Brimsmead was 
preaching here as early as Sept. 1660. He 
afterwards left and preached for a time in Ply- 
mouth, where he was invited to settle, but de- 
clined the call. He returned again, and was set- 
tled in 1666, Oct. 3, with a salary of about £40. 



Ill 1661, the town voted to build a house for 
their minister on a lot reserved for that pur- 
pose. This house stood not far from the old 
Meeting House, on the west side of the hill 
which rises back of the Common, and tradition 
says was set on fire by the Indians. It was 
built by contract for £15, and a rate of 1^ 
pence was made on all house-lots, for the pay- 
ment of the sum. 

Mr. Brimsmead preached an Election Sermon 
in 1681, which was printed. Among the pa- 
pers made use of by Prince in writing his An- 
nals, was a Journal in Latin kept by him from 
1665 to 1695. He was never married, and 
tradition says uniformly refused to baptize chil- 
dren born on the Sabbath.* During the last 
part of his life he was in feeble health, and 
unable to perform his pastoral duties without 
assistance. He died on Commencement morn- 
ing, July 3d, 1701. "The clergy honored him, 
and the magistrates asked his prayers in times 
of difficulty and danger." He was buried in 



* Mr. Brimsmead was not alone in this singular practice. Mr. 
Loring of Sudbury, followed the same custom until a pair of twins 
were born to him, on the Sabbath ; from that time his opinions 
seem to have met with a change on the subject, and all were per- 
mitted to receive the ordinance. 



8 

the old grave yard, and an unlettered stone still 
remains to mark his resting place. 

It was during Mr. Brimsmead's ministry, 
that the first Meeting House was burned. This 
town, with other neighboring towns was made 
to share the horrors of King Phillip's War. 
On the 20th of March 1676, while the people 
were assembled for public worship, and while 
Mr. Brimsmead was in the midst of his dis- 
course, the cry was raised that the Indians were 
advancing upon them. The congregation fled 
at once to the Fort, which was not far distant, 
and succeeded in reaching it in safety with but 
a single exception. Moses Newton, while as- 
sisting an aged female to escape, who must oth- 
erwise have been captured, received a musket 
ball in his elbow, from the full effect of which 
he never recovered. Ihe Meeting House, 
many of their dwellings, together with much 
of their property, cattle, fruit trees, &c., were 
entirely destroyed. Alarmed by this attack 
and discouraged by their losses, the inhabitants 
left the place, and sought protection in a safer 
and more populous neighborhood. 

Some time in the early part of the following 
year, the settlers returned. " Soon after their 
return, they proceeded to the erection of a new 



9 

Meeting House, which, like the former, was 
thatched with straw, or rather a species of tall 
grass taken from a meadow, since called, from 
that circumstance. Thatch Meadow. This 
building, which was left in an unfinished state, 
lasted but a few years. In 1680, an unsuc- 
cessful attempt was made to enlarge and repair 
it ; and at length, in 1688, a larger and more 
commodious house was erected near the site of 
the former, which lasted more than 120 years, 
having stood till 1809." * The old Meeting 
House was valued in 1689 at £10 ; and the 
pulpit at £4:. 

The following is a copy of the first Cove- 
nant of this church, called the Brimsmead 
Covenant. 

"Marlborough Cliiirch Covenant as it was Renewed 
OctoV y« 15^^ 1679. 

We whose names are hereafter subscribed, Inhabitants 
of y® Town of Marlborough Knowing y* we are very 
Prone to offend and Provoke God y*^ Most High both in 
Heart and Life, through y® Prevalency of sin that Dwell- 
eth Avithin us, and manifold temptations from with- 
out us ; for which we have great Reason to be un- 
feignedly Humbled before God from day to day ; Do in 
y® name of our Lord Jesus with Dependency upon y^ Gra- 
cious Assistance of his Holy Spirit, Solemnly Enter into a 

* Dr. Allen's Hist, of Nortbborough. 



10 

Covenant with God and one with another according to 
God as folio weth. 

1 . That having Chosen and taken y« Lord Jehovah to 
be our God ; we will fear him and Cleave to him in Love, 
& serve him in Truth with all our hearts ; Giving up our 
selves to be his People, in all things to be at his Dispo- 
sal & sovereign Direction, that we may have and hold 
Communion with Him as members of Christ's mystical 
Body, according to his Revealed will, to our Lives End. 

2. We also Bind our selves to Bring up our Children 
& Servants in y® knowledge and fear of God by his holy 
Institutions according to our Best Ability, and, in 
special by y^ use of Orthodox Catechism that y^ True Re- 
ligion may be maintained in our families whilst we Live ; 
yea &. among such as shall Live when we are Dead & 
gone. 

3. We furthermore Promise to keep Close to y<^ truth 
of Christ, Endeavoring with affection towards it in our 
Hearts, to Defend it against all opposers thereto as God 
shall call us at any time thereunto ; which that we may 
do, we Resolve to use y® Holy Scripture as our Platform ; 
whereby we may Discern y^ mind of Christ and not y^ 
New found Inventions of men. 

4. We also Engage ourselves to have a careful Inspec- 
tion over our own Hearts so as to Endeavor by y® Vertue 
of y® Death of Christ, y^ mortification of all our Sinful 
Passions, worldly frames. Disorderly affections, whereby 
we may be withdrawn from y® Living God. 

5. We moreover oblige ourselves in y^ faithful Im- 
provement of our Ability & opportunity, to worship God 
according to all Particular Institutions of Christ for his 
Church, under Gospel Administrations ; as to give Rev- 



11 

erend Attention to y^ word of God, to pray unto liim, to 
sing his praises & to hold Communion with Each other 
in ye use of both the Seals ; Namely Baptism and the 
Lords Supper. 

6. We Likewise Promise, that we will peaceably sub- 
mit unto y^ Discipline appointed by Christ in his Church 
for offenders ; obeying them that Rule over us in y® 
Lord. 

7. We also Bind our selves to walk in Love one to- 
wards another, Endeavoring our mutual Edification, Visi- 
ting, Exhorting, Comforting as occasion serveth ; And 
warning any Brother or Sister which offends, not Divulg- 
ing Private offences Irregularly, But heedfully following 
ye several Precepts Laid down by Christ for Church Deal- 
ing ; Matt. 18<^h. 15, 16, 17, willingly forgiving all that 
manifest unto judgment of Charity that they truly repent 
of all miscarriages. 

Now to y^ God of peace that Brought again from y® 
Dead our Lord Jesus the great Shepherd of ye sheep 
through ye Blood of ye Everlasting Covenant ; make us 
all perfect in Every good thipg to do his will, working in 
us that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus 
Christ, to whom be glory for Ever & Ever. Amen. 

This Covenant, with a few verbal changes, 
was used by the church until 1837. 

In the year 1661, the General Court " ex- 
pressed their desire and order for the conve- 
ning" of a Synod to meet at Boston, to give 
their advice respecting the Half-Way Cove- 
nant. The Synod met the following year and 



12 

adopted propositions which approved that Cov- 
enant, though not without opposition on the 
part of a small but learned and able minority. 
This Church has the following record in 
regard to this Covenant. 

At a meeting of y® Church of Christ in Marlborough 
on ye 2^ of y^ 7°^ 1701 ; It was proposed unto considera- 
tion w* was necessary to be done in order to admitting of 
Persons to y® ordinance of Baptism y* were not in any 
way in Church Fellowship. After a very deliberate and 
friendly debate, it was unanimously and jointly concurred 
in & agreed to, y*- all such Persons as shall offer y™ selves 
or y^'" children to this church for y« seal of Baptism, shall 
be received, provided yy are not scandalous in conversa- 
tion and are orthodox in religion and will submit to y® Dis- 
cipline of Christ in this Church, and do engage, and bind y™ 
selves to bring up y''^ Children & Servants in y® Fear and 
Knowledge of God by holy Instruction according to y^^ best 
abilities ; and in special by y^ use of Orthodox Catechisms 
y* ye true religion may be maintained in y^'" families while 
yy live, yea and among such as shall live Wn yy are dead 
and gone. 

On 14th May, 1794, the matter was again 
brought before the church, to see if any change 
should be made in the terms on which persons 
might be admitted to Baptism for themselves 
or their children, but was left without any 
action. 



13 

The Half-way Covenant was not formally 
abrogated in this church till the year 1836. 
But practically, the customs to which it gave 
rise ceased a number of years previous to that 
time. The main reason which led to this, was 
the vote of the church in 181^, that a Commit- 
tee be chosen to examine candidates for admis- 
sion to the church, and for the rite of Baptism 
under this Covenant. From this time the 
practice almost immediately fell into disuse. 

The following was the Covenant used on such 
occasions, and was known as the Baptismal 
Covenant. 

Professing a serious and hearty belief of the truth of 
the Christian Religion, you most solemnly choose and take 
the Lord Jehovah to be your God and portion, promising 
to fear, love, obey, and depend upon him, as finally to be 
made completely happy in him. 

You believe the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of 
God, to be the only Redeemer and Savior of men, and 
take him to be your Prophet, Priest and King, depending 
on his merits to save you from the guilt of sin and the 
wrath of God. 

You believe the Holy Spirit to be the only applier of 
the work of redemption, depending on his influences and 
grace to renew, sanctify, comfort, and guide you to glory. 

You believe us to be a true church of Christ, and do 
give up yourself to this Church to be watched over and 
edified in your Christian Faith to Salvation. 
2 



14: 

You promise to submit peaceably to the discipline of 
Christ in this church, obeying them who have the rule over 
you in the Lord. And you engage that you will bring up 
the children and servants which may be committed to your 
care in the knowledge and fear of God, according to the 
Holy Scriptures which you accept as your only rule. And 
you promise, by the help of Divine Grace, to labor to be 
made worthy to come up to a full and acceptable observa- 
tion, of all the holy ordinances of Christ. 

During King William's War, as it is called, 
an incident occurred to a member of this church 
which is worth recording in this place. It is 
thus referred to in Whitney's " History of the 
County of Worcester ; " " On the 18th of Ju- 
ly, 1692, the Indians assaulted the house of 
Peter Joslin, (Lancaster) who was at his labor 
in the field, and knew nothing thereof, until 
entering the house, he found his wife and three 
children, with a widow Whitcomb who lived 
in his family, barbarously butchered with their 
hatchets, and weltering in their blood. His 
wife's sister, with another of his children, were 
carried into captivity. She returned ; but that 
child was murdered in the wilderness." The 
person here referred to was Mary Howe, of 
Marlborough, then on a visit to her sister in 
Lancaster, just before the time appointed for 
her marriage. After a captivity of between 



15 

three and four years, she was ransomed by gov- 
ernment, and returned home in safety, and was 
married to Thomas Keyes, afterwards a Deacon 
of this church. She lived to a great age, but 
was never able to overcome the shock of terror 
ehe experienced when taken captive. * 

On the 12th of Sept. 1701, Rev. John Em- 
erson, a native of Ipswich and a graduate of 
Harvard College in 1689, was invited to be- 
come the minister of the town. This invita- 
tion was the occasion of a long and bitter con- 
troversy, and for more than a year kept the 
town in a state of great excitement. In March 
1702, Mr Emerson declined the call. It was 
renewed in April of the same year, and de- 
clined again in May, so strong was the oppo- 
sition against his settlement. The advice of 
two councils was asked, and in both cases, the 
decision was against his becoming minister of 
the town. The several papers to which this 
controversy gave rise, such as letters of invita- 
tion, remonstrances, results of councils, haji^e 
been preserved in their original form, and 
among them are manuscript letters from In- 
crease and Cotton Mather. 

* Dea. Keyes lived on the farm now owned by Wm. L. "Weeks. 



16 

Mr. Emerson was settled in Newcastle, N. 
H., in 1703, and dismissed in 1712; after- 
wards was settled in Portsmouth where he died 
1732. 

Robert Breck, the second minister of this 
town, was a native of Dorchester. He was 
born Dec. 7, 1682; was graduated at Harvard 
College in 1700 ; and was settled in this town 
Oct. 25, 1704, when only 22 years of age. 
His salary was to be " seventie pounds annu- 
ally, and firewood for the year annually, and 
settlement one hundred pounds." 

The record of his ordination is as follows. 

The 25*^1 day of y^ 8"^ 1704, Mr. Robert Breck was or- 
dained Pastor of ye Church of Christ in Marlborough, No 
Persons objecting. Mr Rawson carried on y^ work of The 
Day. Mr. Estabrook gave y® Charge. Mr. Clark y® 
Right Hand of Fellowship. Mr. Danforth gave a word 
of advice unto y^ people. 



He married Elizabeth Wainwright of Hav- 
erhill, by whom he had six children ; four of 
the children and the widow survived him, she 
dying in 1736. His son Robert was settled as 
a minister in Springfield. 

The Marlborough Association was formed at 
the house of Mr. Breck, June 5, 1725. The 



17 

original members were John Swift, Robert 
Brecl^, John Prentice, Israel Loring, Job Gush- 
ing, John Gardner and Ebenezer Parkman. It 
was formed " with Design and Aim herein to 
Advance y® Interest of Christ ; y® Service of 
our Respective Charges, and our own mutual 
Edification in our great work. " It was voted 
" that Marlborough, y® central Town, be y® 
Place of our ordinary meeting, unless upon y® 
Desire of any particular member, the Associa- 
tion shall see fit lo meet elsewhere." The ordi- 
nary business of its meetings may be inferred 
from the vote ; " That we will consider any 
cases that shall be laid before us by any mem- 
ber of us, or by other persons which shall be 
thought worthy thereof And if there be op- 
portunity therefor, each member shall deliver 
in his order, Concionem ad Clerum ; unless it 
be then judged proper some question be spo- 
ken to, being proposed y® meeting before, and 
as many persons to make answer to it as were 
appointed thereunto. " And accordingly, the 
early Records are mostly made up of cases of 
conscience, and questions of difficulty in church 
discipline, or matters of disagreement, between 
the parties in a church, or between pastor and 
people, which were laid before this body for 
2* 



18 

advice and counsel. The Association was dis- 
solved Oct. 14, 1814, and the Records were 
given to this church, where they are still pre- 
served. 

Sept. 1st, 1730, it is recorded that the Asso- 
ciation met at Framingham, and that " Rev. 
Mr. Breck was prevented from attending by a 
grievous sore in his mouth, which afterwards 
proved the sorrowful occasion of his death. " 

"Oct. 15, 1730, Associated at Marlborough. 
Met at Benjamin Wood's, by reason of Mr. 
Brock's being under Salivation. " This meet- 
ing was changed to a fast, on account of Mr. 
Brock's dangerous illness. Rev. Mr. Prentice 
of Lancaster, preached in the morning, and 
Rev. Mr. Swift of Framingham in the after- 
noon. The manuscript sermon by Mr. Pren- 
tice, from Matt. 4 : 24, has been preserved with 
the records of this church. 

In 1728 Mr. Breck preached the Election 
Sermon, which was published. June 15, 1720, 
he preached the first sermon ever preached in 
Shrewsbury. Mr. Breck died Jan. 6, 1731, at 
the age of 49 years, in the vigor of his powers, 
and universally lamented. 

On the occasion of his death, three funeral 
sermons were preached to his people ; one by 



19 

Mr. Prentice of Lancaster, one by Mr. Swift 
of Framingham, and also one by Mr. Loring 
of Sudbury ; all of which were published in a 
single pamphlet, and several copies are still in 
existence. An Appendix is added to Mr. Pren- 
tice's Sermon, containing some accounts of Mr. 
Breck, taken from the Weekly Journal of Jan. 
18, 1731, from which are copied the following 
paragraphs. 

'' Before his Settlement at Marlborough, he 
was a Preacher for some time at Long Island, 
in the Province of New York, during the Gov- 
ernment of Lord Carnbury ; there he had the 
Courage, though at that Time Young, to assert 
and adhere to the Cause and Principles of the 
Non Conformists, notwithstanding theThreaten- 
ings and other ill Treatment he there met with." 

" He was a Man of strong natural Powers, 
clear Head, solid Judgment ; and by the Bles- 
sing of God on his unwearied Diligence and 
Study, he attained great Skill in the learned 
Languages, (uncommon in the Hebrew ; using 
to read out of the Hebrew Bible to his Fami- 
ly ;) as also in Philosophy, the Mathematics, 
History, as well as in Divinity, in which he was 
sound and orthodox, a good Casuist, a strong 
Disputant, a methodical and close Preacher. 



20 

"And as his personal Conduct in his Life- 
time was Steady, not elated by Prosperity or 
sunk by Adversity ; so at the Approach of 
Death, though for a considerable time under 
Languishments and expecting of it, and in ex- 
quisite Pains, yet he then sedately set his 
House in Order, and with his usual Steadiness, 
wonderful Patience and Resignation, enjoying 
Peace in his Soul, he departed this Life, and 
doubtless entered into the joy of his Lord." 

The Boston Weekly News Letter of the same 
month speaks in the same high terms of his 
abilities, his acquirements, his christian and 
ministerial character, and ranks him among the 
ablest men of his time. 

A monument was erected to his memory near 
that of Mr. Brimsmead, on which is the follow- 
ing Latin inscription. 

Reliquiae terrestres theologi vere venerandi 
Roberti Breck sub hoc tumulo conferunter. 
Pars coelestis ad coelum myriadum angelorum 
et ad spiritus justorum qui perfecti sunt abiit. 

Ingenii penetrantis, quoad vires naturales, 
vir fuit amplissimae mentis et judicii solidi, una 
cum animi fortitudine singulari. Quoad partes 
acquisitas spectat, in Unguis quae doctaepraeser- 
tim admodum peritus ; literarum politarum men- 



21 

sura parum communi instructus ; et, quod aliis 
fuit difficile, ille, virtute ingenii propriiet studiis 
coarctis, feliciter subegit. In omnibus Theolo- 
giae partibus versatissimus, et vere orthodoxus, 
Scriba ad regnum coelorum usquequaque insti- 
tutus. Officio pastorali in ecclesia Maiiburi- 
ensi, ubi Spiritus Sanctus ilium constituit epis- 
copum per XXVII annos, iideliter, sedulo, pa- 
cifice, multaque cum laude, functus est. 

Doctrinae Revelatae, una cum cultu et regi- 
mine in Ecclesiis Nov Anglicanis institute, as- 
sertor hobilis et strenuus. Ad consilia danda 
in rebus arduis, tum publicis tum privatis, in- 
tegritate conspectus et prudentia instructissi- 
mus. Sincere dilexit amicos, patriam, et uni- 
versam Christi ecclesiam. 

Denique pietatis, omnis virtutis socialis, et 
quoad res terrenas moderaminis exemplar. In 
doloribus asperis aegritudinis ultimae patientia 
ejus opus perfectum habuit ; et si non ovans, 
expectans tamen et placide discessit. 

Natus Decemis 7^° 1682. 
Denatus Januar. 6*o 1731. 

Prophetae ipsi non in seculum vivunt. 

The following is a translation of it into Eng- 
lish. ' 

Beneath this mound are deposited the mor- 



22 

tal remains of the truly Reverend Robert 
Breck. His immortal part hath ascended to 
heaven, to join the innumerable company of 
angels, and the spirits of the just made per- 
fect. 

He was by nature a man of acute intellect, 
capacious mind and solid judgment, together 
with singular mental resolution. As to his at- 
tainments, he was eminently skilled in the 
learned languages, familiar beyond the common 
measure with polite literature ; and what to 
others was difficult, he by his powers of mind 
and close application to study, accomplished 
with ease. 

Thoroughly versed in every department of 
theology, and truly orthodox in sentiment, he 
was a scribe in every respect, instructed unto 
the kingdom of heaven. The duties of the 
pastoral office in the church at Marlborough, 
over which the Holy Ghost had made him 
overseer, he discharged faithfully and assidu- 
ously, in peace and with great reputation, for 
twenty-seven years. 

He was a skilful and able asserter of the 
doctrines of revelation^nd of the worship and 
discipline of the New England Churches. 

He was a counsellor in cases of difficulty. 



23 

both public and private, of distinguished up- 
rightness and consummate prudence. 

He was a sincere lover of his friends, his 
country, and the whole church of Christ. 

In a word, he was a model of piety, of eve- 
ry social virtue, and of moderation in regard 
to earthly things. 

In the severe pains of his last sickness, his 
patience had its perfect work ; and his depar- 
ture, if not in triumph, was full of hope and 
peace. 
Born Dec. 7th, 1682.— Died Jan. 6th, 1731. 
Even the prophets do not live forever. 

Benjamin Kent, the successor of Eobert 
Breck, was ordained Oct. 27, 1733. He was 
graduated at Harvard College in 1727. The 
Town Record has the following in regard to his 
settlement. 

" The Town granted a salary of one hun- 
dred and eighty pounds per annum in passable 
bills of public credit, if he shall see cause to 
accept of the call given him by the Church 
and Town, and to continue so long as he shall 
be their minister, and to rise and fall according 
to Silver, which is now current at twenty shil- 
lings an ounce. " For settlement he was al- 
lowed four hundred pounds. 



24 

There seems to have been some marked de- 
fects in his ministerial qualities, which soon re- 
sulted in his dismission. Under the date of 
Oct. 1733, there is the following reference to 
him in the Records of the Marlborough Asso- 
ciation, which met that day at Framingham. 

" The Rev. Mr. Smith had invited the South- 
ern Association, (which were to have met this 
day at his Son's-in4aw, Mr. Stone of Holliston,) 
by which means we had the benefit of their 
advice and assistance in the difficulty before 
us, relating to Mr. Benjamin Kent, ordained 
at Marlborough ; — ^reat complaint being 
made about the world, of his principles. 
Mr. Kent was present, and very freely submit- 
ted himself to our inquiries and examination. 
Mr. Loring interrogated upon the Articles 
drawn up in the New England Confession of 
Faith, chiefly relating to the controversy with 
the Remm oust rants ; and he gave such a dec- 
laration of his belief, and with such profes- 
sions of honesty and sincerity in all, that the 
Association manifested their satisfaction there- 
in, upon condition that they should find that 
both his preaching and conversation had been? 
and should for the future be, agreeable to such 
declaration ; in short, so long as they should 



25 

see that what he had exhibited were his real 
sentiments." 

The general impression made by this equiv- 
ocal statement, is confirmed by the following 
letter of Dr. Franklin. " You tell me that our 
poor friend Ben. Kent is gone ; I hope to the 
regions of the blessed ; or at least to some 
place where souls are prepared for those regions. 
I found my hope on this, that though not so 
orthodox as you and I, he was an honest man 
and had his virtues. If he had any hypocrisy, 
it was of that inverted kind, with which a man 
is not so bad as he seems to be. " 

The Church E-ecords also show that there 
was great dissatisfaction with his course, 
among some of his church and congregation. 
Scarcely had he been settled, when Benjamin 
Wood, who seems to have been a prominent 
member of the Society, brings some grave char- 
ges against him. He calls him a " profest Ar- 
minian," and says that his want of orthodoxy 
has made a "great noise almost over all of the 
Province ;" that the " nearest neighboring 
ministers refused to assist in his ordination ;" 
and also charges him with contradictory state- 
ments. The opposition to him increased and 
kept the church in commotion during the 
3 



26 

entire year 1734; and at length a Council was 
called, Feb. 4, 1735, to investigate the matter, 
and give their advice. The result of that 
council has fortunately just been recovered, 
and is full of important information. It ap- 
pears from this document, that, in the estima- 
tion of the council, the charges of being a 
«' profest Arminian," of "profane and scanda- 
lous conversation, " were fully sustained. They 
find that he " held and vented unsound and 
dangerous opinions with respect to the great 
and important Scripture doctrine of the Trini- 
ty;" "that Jesus Christ hath not made full 
satisfaction for all our sins ; " " that there were 
several answers in the Assembly's Catechism 
which had not a word of Scripture to support 
them, particularly that respecting the Decrees; " 
"that he denied an absolute Election, and 
asserted a conditional one on the foresight of 
good works ;" " that he said in his preaching, 
that if God dealt with Adam as a moral agent 
he could not have hindered his fall or his sin- 
ning against him ; " " that infants came into 
the world free and clear of original guilt." It 
also appeared to them " that he had said in his 
preaching, that the fundamentals of religion 
were plain and easy ; were not, never were, 



27 

never could be disputed, because they were of 
a moral nature, which expressions we judge 
are false, and have a dangerous tendency to 
lessen our regard for revealed religion." Find- 
ing him guilty of holding and preaching such 
sentiments ; of using " profane and filthy ex- 
pressions ;" and also of " expressions relating 
to y® neighboring ministers which are indecent 
and injurious reflections upon them ;" the 
council judged, and advised that the Rev. Mr. 
Benj. Kent be suspended from preaching the 
word, or administering the holy Sacraments 
until the 27th of May next. And if as we 
earnestly wish, it shall in mean time please the 
God of all grace to give him that light and 
conviction which may dispose him publicly to 
retract his errors, and own the truth as it is in 
Jesus, it may give occasion to restore him in 
the spirit of meekness and with joy. To that 
time this council will be adjourned, and will 
then stand ready, (God willing,) to give this 
church our further advice." 

Mr. Kent's ministry probably closed with 
the decision of this council. No record now 
remains that he ever retracted his errors, or 
was ever again restored to his regular standing 
as a minister of the gospel. He probably 



28 

withdrew at once, leaving the church as we 
know in a divided state. An action was 
brought against the town, to recover the sum 
of £400, which was voted to him as a " settle- 
ment," and the case, after a prolonged litiga- 
tion, was finally decided in his favor. lie 
afterwards removed to Boston where he com- 
menced the practice of law, and became cele- 
brated for his " eccentricity and wit." He fled 
from that place, as a refugee, to Halifax, where 
he died in 1 788 at an advanced age. 

The following Covenant seems to have been 
formed and entered into by an Association of 
Young Men in this place, who met together 
for religious objects. It was formed Sept. 9, 
17f^6, and twenty-nine names were appended 
to it. How far it was successful, or how long 
it existed, we haA'e no menus of knowing ; but 
from the fact that the Covenant was copied 
out in L740, and that new names were subse- 
quently added, it may be inferred that it con- 
tinued in existence for several years. It is the 
first record that I have found of any Association 
of Young Men. 

•' "Wc the subscribers, — Being Sensible that it is our great 
Duty, and Interest to serve Goi in the Dajs of our 5'outh, 
and to Seek him Early, and Having his Promise that 



29 

when two or three are met together in his name, that he 
will be in the midst of them, — Have thought it might ba 
for the glory of God and our spiritual good, to meet 
together for Religious Exercises at certain times : Do in 
the Presence of God, and whom we fear, and to whose 
Service Herein we Devote our Selves, Covenant and agree 
together as follows. 

(1) That we will with God's Leave meet together Every 
Lord's Day in the Evening, and on y® evening of Thanks- 
giving and Fasts, to Carry on among our Selves Religious . 
Worship, to Pray to God, to Sing His Praises, to Read 
his word or Some Practical Discourse, and to conclude 
with Prayer, and while we Continue together our Convar- 
sation shall be Savory and Suitable to the End Proposed 
by us in our meeting together. 

(2) That we will Conceal and not expose any weakness 
or Infirmity that may Proceed from any of us, eifeiier while 
we are together or elsewhere, and that we will watch over 
one another for good. 

(3) That we will Each of us in our turns, according 
as shall be appointed by y^ Society, Carry on part of Re- 
ligious Exercise from time to time as God shall Enable 
us. 

(4) That when we Break up our Religious Exercise, 
we will Directly return to oar Several Homes, and noth- 
ing But what is Extraordinary Shall Divert us therefrom. 

(5) That We will admonish one another in love if there 
be occasion ; and if any among us, (which God forbid) 
shall fall into any Scandalous Sin, or Break through any 
of y^ Articles of this agreement, or without any just 
Cause, be absent from our ineeting and Refuseth to give 
Christian Satisfaction to us,. He shall cease to be a mem- 
ber of the Society. 

3* 



30 

(6) That we will not only whilst together, Eut at all 
times, in all Company, Endeavor by y® grace and Help of 
God to regulate our Conversation with that Christian Pru- 
dence and Sobriety as Shall give no orcasii n to others to 
Speak ill of us, nor of the lleligious Design that we have 
now Engaged in. 

Finally for the Performance hereof we will rely upon 
the Divine Grace and Seek for God's Blessing upon and 
with us. 

Sept. 9, 1736. Copied out August 16th 1740. 

Aaron Smith, the fourth minister of the town 
was ordained June 11, 1740. This was about 
the time of the "Great Awakening," but there 
is no record of any deep or general interest in 
this place. AVhitcfield preached here on the 
afternoon of Tuesday, the 14th of Oct. IHO, 
and tradition says on the common in front of 
the old Meeting House, because the use of the 
House was denied him. Appointments were 
often made in advance, without consulting the 
wishes or convenience of the Ministers, and 
this in many cases awakened strong opposition 
to his course. It is supposed to have had some 
influence in this case. We find the following 
reference to this day in his letters. '' His heart 
was dead at first, and he had but little free- 
dom ; but before he finished, the word came 
with such demonstration . of the spirit, that 



31 

great numbers were melted down. Here he 
found Gov. Belcher, who went with him 
through the rain, that night to Worcester." 
In the private Journal of llev. Ebenezer Park- 
man of Westborougli, mention is made of 
si)ecial meetings in this place, but nothing that 
indicates any general interest. From the fact 
that the Marlborough Association drew up«nd 
generally signed a Testimony against Mr. 
AVhitetield and his conduct, it may perhaps not 
unjustly be inferred, tbat Mr. Smith had little 
sympathy with the Great Awakening. 

The 15th of June 1749, was observed as a 
day of " public Fasting on Occasion of the 
extreme Drought," prevailing at that time. 
Mr. Smith preached two sermons from Lev. 2(3 : 
3, 4, on '* Some Temporal Advantages in Keep- 
ing Covenant with God." The sermons were 
printed, " At the earnest Request of His Ilear- 
ers," and a copy is preserved with the Church 
Records. The following extract is taken from 
the Appendix. 

"The Heat and Drought daily increased until not only 
the Ground was chapt. but the Corn %vhich clothed the 
Valleys was fainting, and on the point of sinking into the 
Earth. The Trees languished and died ; The Brooks dried 
up ; the small Fish so perished that the Rivers Stank : 



32 

yea the Air by a long stagnation become so putrid and 
unfit for Respiration, that Mankind were in Danger of be- 
ing suffocated. In this last Extremity, When every Coun- 
tenance gathered Paleness, for all Things appeared dark 
and dismal, and in Consternation, Men stood gazing one 
on another, wisely inquiring, Wherefore God's Anger 
burned towards them in such a tremendous Maimer ! I 
say in this very critical Juncture, the Lord wrought gra- 
ciously for his People on the 6th of July ; that memorable 
Day Almighty God compassionated our desperate Case, 
and called us to behold his great Power in relieving us, 
when reduced to the lowest Ebb New England ever saw. 
'Twas in the very Instant when all Hope was ready to fail; 
that the Father of Rain sent plentiful showers, and so 
refreshed the parched Earth, and recovered the perishing 
Fruits, and destroyed the Insects ; And the Earth yielded 
more than a competent supply for the Necessities and 
Comforts of Life." 

In the year 1775, the dysentery prevailed in 
this town and was signally fatal, as in three 
instances, four persons were buried in one day, 
and nineteen in one week. 

A singular event in Mr. Smith's history oc- 
curred in the year 1777. Tradition says, that 
three men went to his house at night, and fired 
a gun into the window of his study. And in 
the Records of the Marlboro' Association, Aug. 
19th of this year, it is recorded, that certain 
topics were the subject of conversation, to- 



33 

gethcr with what Mr. Smith had lately mot with 
at Marlboro' ; several guns having been shot 
into his study at midnight, as if aimed to take 
away his life, but he survived unhurt." 

It is probably a mistake to suppose that the 
design was to take his life ; in fiict all the 
circumstances indicate that there was no such 
intention. But Mr. Smith had now become 
unpopular as a minister, on account of his age 
and infirmities, and also, tradition says, because 
he was regarded as a Tory ; and the design 
evidently was to alarm him, and induce him to 
leave the place. * 

On the 13th of Feb. 1777, the church voted 
to choose a colleague with Mr. Smith, on 
account of his feeble health, but the town 
refused to concur with the action of the church. 
In Jan. 1778 he asked a dismission, and was 
accordingly dismissed by a Council called for 
the purpose April 29, 1778 ; on account of his 
" infirmity and weakness which greatly affected 
his lungs, and voice in particular." As a 
brother in the church, he was recommended by 

* The house where Mr. Smith resided, is the one now occupied 
by Mr. William Gibbon. The bullet fired through his window 
and lodged in a beam, M-as a few years since extracted by Mr. Gib- 
bon, and is still preserved. 



34 

letter to the church in East Sudbury, to which 
place he removed, and where he died in 1781, 
in the 67th year of his age. His daughter was 
married to Rev. Mr. Bridge of that place. 

In 1767 this church numbered 164 members; 
79 males and 85 females. 

The following warrant for a Town Meeting 
was issued 1758, and is interesting as a part of 
the history of that period. 

** Middlesex ss. To Mr John Barns Constable for the 
Town of Marlborough in said County, Greeting. 

In His Majesty's name yoa are Hereby required forth- 
with to warn all the Freeholders, and other Inhabitants in 
your Part of this Town, Qualified as the Law Directs to 
Vote in town affairs, to meet att the Meeting Hous, in 
said Town, on Monday the Third Day of April Next, att 
one of the Clock after non, to act on the following Arti- 
cles. 

1 . To chuse a moderator for s^ meeting. 

2. To See if the Town will give order by a Vote, that 
the Persons that now own the Present Pews shall take up 
the Seats in the body of the meeting hous and the floar, 
and Lay another floar upon the Sells with new Sleeppers, 
and with using the old boards for the under floor, and new 
boards for the upper floar, and to Put the Seats up again 
upon the said Persons Cost. 

3. To see if the Town will take down the Present Pul- 
pit in the meeting hous, and take away the table, and 
build a new Pulpit and a Deacon's seat before the Pulpit, 
and cut the minister's Pew and the women's Pew, to make 



35 

Room to build two Seats more, one on the mens side, and 
another on the women's side, before the Present fore 
seats. 

4. To see if the Town will grant Liberty to any Person 
or Persons that may appear to Do the work, he or they 
having the Women's Pew, and the ground that may be 
spared where the Pulpit stairs now are, to build a Pew 
on. 

Hereof fail not and make Return of this Warrant with 
your doings thereon to the Select men on or before the 
time of s*^ meeting. 

Dated at Marlborough the twenty fourth Day of March 
in the thirty first year of his Majesty's Reign, A. D. 1758 
by order of y^ Select men. 

J. Warren Town Clerk. 

After the dismission of Mr. Smith, the church 
was destitute of a pastor about seven years. 
At last, after hearing a number of candidates, 
Mr. Asa Packard of Bridge water was chosen, 
and was ordained March 23d, 1785. This day 
has always been remembered from this fact ; 
that the snow was then lying so deep as to cover 
the tops of the fences, and sleighs could pass 
over the fields in any direction without difficul- 
ty. The town " Voted to give Mr. Packard 
for a settlement £300, to be paid, one half in 
one year from the day of his ordination, the 
other half in two years from said day ; and for 
a Salary £100, and 20 cords of good marketa- 



36 

ble oak wood, cut and brought to his door, at 
his dwelling house in said Marlborough, annu- 
ally, so long as he remains our Minister." In 
the course of time, owing to the depreciation 
in the currency, his salary had become less val- 
uable than at first ; and in a communication 
made to the church, Nov. 8Lh, 1804, complain- 
ing of the inadequacy of his Salary, he makes 
the following proposition. " To prevent any 
dispute on the subject, on the town's part or on 
mine, I will silently and quietly abide the de-. 
cision of the select men who shall be chosen 
in March 1805, together with the Deacons 
then in office, and will receipt the Treasurer 
for one year s salary on receiving what they 
shall judge equivalent to ,$333,33, in March 
1785." He also pledged himself to make no 
demand of the town, for compensation or de- 
preciation, previous to March 1804. 

In December, a committee was chosen by 
the town consisting of seven, to consider and 
report on this matter, " all of them opposed to 
the separation of the town then contemplated 
by the westerly part, whose petition was pending 
in the General Court." 

This committee, after conferring with the 
pastor, reported unanimously in favor of his 



37 

proposition ; but the town would not adopt the 
report. Mr. Packard then asked a dismission 
from the church, and requested them to unite 
with him in calling a council for that purpose ; 
but the request was denied. This action of 
the church and town, was doubtless in a great 
measure the result of the serious difficulties in 
which the town was now so deeply involved. 

The great event of Mr. Packard's ministry, 
w^as the division of the town into the East and 
West Parishes, and a corresponding division in 
the church. As this is so closely connected 
with the history of the church, it will be nec- 
essary to give a brief sketch of the circum- 
stances which led to it. The old Meeting 
House had now been standing more than an 
hundred years, and was no longer a suitable 
place for public worship. The question which 
for several years agitated the town, and which 
finally resulted in its division, related to the 
location of the new House. The West part 
of the town claimed that there was only one 
suitable spot, and that was the old common, 
w^here every Meeting House had stood since 
the town was incorporated. The East part of 
the town maintained, that the old location was 

not central, and justice required them to select 
4 



38 

a spot which would best accommodate the 
greatest number ; which spot was nearly half 
a mile east from the common. 

In June 1804, a Committee was appointed 
to form a plan of the town, and take the length 
of the roads leading to every house, so as to 
find the most central spot. At length, Jan. 1, 
1805, after several other locations had been 
proposed and rejected; it was " voted, 81 for, 
and 10 against the motion, to build a Meeting 
House at Spring Hill, so called, on the place 
or spot of ground which was lately surveyed 
by Silas Felton, by direction of a Committee 
of the town chosen on the 4th of June 1804. 
On condition that a certain bond executed by 
Dea. Josiah How, Dea. Abner Goodale and 
others, to the inhabitants of the town of Marl- 
borough, bearing date Jan. 1,1805, the penal sum 
of three thousand dollars, conditioned, among 
other things, to put said place or spot of ground 
in suitable, proper and fit condition to erect 
said building upon, in consideration of and 
exchange for the old Meeting House common, 
or the value thereof in money, be lodged in 
the hands of the town Treasurer of the town 
of Marlborough, there to remain and be made 
use of for the benefit of the town, according 



39 

to the true intent, tenor and express condition 
of the same." 

The town chose as their building committee, 
" Mr. Uriah 1 ager, Dea. Abner Goodale, Jo- 
seph Brigham, jr. Esq., Mr. Micah Sherman, 
Mr. John Loring, Mr. Enoch Corey, Capt. Jon- 
athan Weeks, Mr. Lovell Brigham, Capt. 
David Brigham, Capt. Lovell Barnes, and Capt. 
William Wesson." 

The ground was prepared by the individuals 
giving the bond, and was accepted by the town 
Nov 1805. The old common at this time con- 
sisted of " two acres, one half, and seventeen 
reds," and was appraised at one dollar and fifty 
cents a square rod. As the common itself 
could not be legally given, the value of the 
common was given as a compensation for pre- 
paring the ground, amounting according to the 
appraisal to six hundred and twenty-five dollars 
and fifty cents. 

On petition of Jonah Bice and eight others, 
an article was introduced into the warrant for 
town meeting on the 16th of July 1804, as fol- 
lows : " To see whether they will give their 
consent, that those inhabitants residing in the 
westerly part of Marlborough be incorporated 
and a separate town made of the territory." 
Passed in the negative, 75 to 110. 



40 

In the warrant calling a town meeting, May 
26, 1806, appears the following article: " To 
see whether the town will consent that Messrs. 
George Williams, William Boyd, Stephen Fel- 
ton, Phineas How, Solomon Barnes, Jonah 
Rice, Samuel Gibbon, Benjamin Rice, jr., 
Moses Ames, William Arnold, &c., with 
such others as may join with them, shall 
be incorporated into a religious society, by such 
a name as the Legislature of the Common- 
wealth may direct." It was voted, 125 to 76, 
that this request should not be granted for the 
following reasons : 

"1st. The town has been at great expense to obtain a 
measurement of the town, and find the center East and 
West is near where their new Meeting House now stands 
according to Gen. Holman's Report. 

" 2d. The north part of the town had a just claim to 
have the ho ise carried nearly a half a mile farther north, 
as appears by said Report, but gave up that right for the 
sake of keeping the Town together, and being united in 
one Society. 

" 3d. This central spot on -which the Town have erec- 
ted their Meeting House, does accommodate a majority of 
64 iamilies, better than the old common would have done. 

" 4th. This spot has been fitted by individuals at an 
expense of nearly $4000, for the sole purpose of keeping 
the town together in one Society. 

" 5th. The Town has not injured those Petitioners in the 



41 

location of tbeir new Meeting House, but have given them 
more than their right, as will be seen by the Plan of the 
Town. 

" 6th. The House built by the Town is sufficiently large 
for the reception of the whole Town. 

" 7th. Should they be set off, the Town would be left 
in a very bad situation ; the inhabitants being obliged to 
travel to the edge of the Parish, and at the same time, 
obliged to maintain the Minister." 

During this time, the inhabitants in the west 
part of the town had taken steps for forming 
a new Parish, and for building a new Meeting 
House. This division, and the simultaneous 
erection of two houses of worship by his own 
people, placed the Pastor in a trying position. 
The matter was finally brought to a crisis, by 
a request of the Committee of the town that 
Mr. Packard should assist in dedicating the 
new Meeting House at Spring Hill. The Pas- 
tor declined complying with this request ; and 
a meeting of the Marlborough Association was 
called by him and the Committee to give their 
advice in the matter. The Association met 
Mirch 4th, 18)6, at Mr. Packard's house, and 
after hearing a full statement from the Com- 
mittees of both Parishes, and from the Pastor 
himself, gave the result of their deliberations 

as follows : 

4* 



42 

*'lst. From the representations made by the Committee 
on the part of the town, and the documents by them ex- 
hibited ; it is the opinion of the Association that the 
Meeting house at Spring Hill so called, has been built by 
the town of Marlborough, pursuant to legal meetings and 
votes of the said town. 

2d. It is the sense of this Association, that the said 
town who have thus built the Meeting house and mean to 
congregate there, have a reasonable and legal claim to the 
Ministerial services of Rev. Mr. Packard in said house. 
But as there exists a respectable minority amounting to 
nearly one half of the church and town, who appear de- 
termined not to assemble at Spring Hill, — and have taken 
decided steps to become a sepa' a^e Society — these circum- 
stances have suggested conscientious scruples to Mr. Pack- 
ard's mind of the propriety of taking the lead in dedica- 
ting said Meeting house and rendering his services there 
in future, and induce him to ask a dissolution of his Pas- 
toral relation to the Church and people in Marlborough ; 
and the Association, while they sincerely lament the occa- 
sion of it. both on their own and the people's account, 
cannot but acquiesce in his determination." 

Mr. Packard then repeated his request that 
the Pastoral relation existing bi tween himself 
and this Church and people be dissolved, and 
it was accordingly dissolved by a mutual coun- 
cil convened for that purpose, April 10, 1806. 
Previous to the meeting of the Council, how- 
ever, the town had acted upon the request, 
prematurely it would seem, by voting that 



43 

" they do resolve and agree that his relation as 
a Minister to this Town, and the ministerial 
contract which now exists between^ him and 
this Corporation, shall be dissolved and done 
away. And they accordingly do hereby dis- 
miss him from all further ministerial Service in 
this town." 

Mr. Packard was thus dismissed after twenty- 
one years pastoral labor ; and Rev. Reuben 
Puffer of Berlin, was chosen Moderator of the 
Church. 

Ihe Meeting House erected on Spring Hill, 
and also the one erected by the inhabitants in 
the west part of the town, were both opened 
for public service, on the same day, April 27, 
1^06. 

The Meeting House at Spring Hill, together 
with the expense of preparing the grounds, 
cost, it is said, between twenty and twenty-five 
thousand dollars. Ihe bell weighed 1318 
pounds, and cost ^585,78. 

The church was now divided into two nearly 
equal bodies, but the two bodies were not yet 
formed into separate churches. Sept. 23, 
1806, the following Dissent was addressed to 
the Rev. Reuben Puffer, Moderator of the 
Church. 



44 

Sir: 

" The present unhappy situation of this Church 
leads us the Sabscribers, members of said Church in reg- 
ular standing, to enter with you this our Dissent to the 
admission of new members, or the transferring of the re- 
lation of any members to or from said Church, previous 
to a regular meeting of the same." 

On the 2*^ of October a request was sent to 
the Moderator, from the branch of the Church 
worshippinof at Sprmg Hill, that a church 
meeting might be called. They complain of 
the interference of the other branch of the 
church with their rights and piivileges, as an 
appointed communion, and proposed Baptisms 
had been suspended on account of their Dis- 
sent. A church meeting was called and a mu- 
tual council invited to meet and advise the 
church in its present difficulties. The Council 
met Oct. 22, and closed its labors Oct. 24, 
recommending among other things the follow- 
ing course as the result of their delibera- 

o 

tions : 

" That each branch of the Chnrch of Christ in Marlbo- 
rough, have full liberty, (except as hereafter excepted) 
without any offence to the other branch, to attend upon 
and enjoy all the special ordinances of the gospel, and to 
exercise all the powers and piivileges of a regalar Christ- 



L 



45 

ian cliurch in separate and distinct bodies, at such times 
and in such places as each branch may choose for itself, 
until a reunion of the church may be effected ; or some 
legal decision had on the state of the town." 

" That the two branches of the church agree, by accept- 
ing this result, that in case the minor part of the inhabi- 
tants of the town should be legally incorporated into a 
distinct Society, then the branch of the church which may 
choose to be united with such corporation, shall be wholly 
released from its connection and covenant engagements 
with the other branch, and may become in a regular way a 
distinct church, bearing the name of the West Church in 
Marlborough ; and that in such an event, the branch of 
the church united with the majority of the town, shall 
likewise be wholly released from its connection and cove- 
nant engagements with the other branch, and shall be 
known and acknowledged as a distinct and regular church, 
bearing the name of the East Church in Marlborough." 

*' In case of an actual division of the Church in any 
regular way, or in consequence of an incorporation of that 
part of the town with which the West branch of the 
Church is united, that there be an equal division of all the 
property, of whatever name or nature, except the Church 
Records, which belong to the whole church, between the 
said two branches of it, no regard being had to a majority, 
be it found in which branch it may ; and that until such a 
division of the property, all the vessels of the Sanctuary 
be kept in such places as will be most convenient for both 
branches of the church, and equally free for the use of 
both branches, though on different days." ^ 

*The church vessels were kept at the house of Simon Stowe, where 
the Town House now stands, until the church was finally divided. 



46 

** That as there may be a connection between the civil 
and ecolesiastical Records of the town, the Church Re- 
cords shall be assigned to that branch of the Church 
united with a majority of the town." 

Both branches of the Church accepted this 
result " without a dissentmg voice." 

The number of acting male members whose 
names appear at this date is 47 ; of these 24 
belonged to the West Branch of the church, 
and 2'i, including ah the Deacons, belonged to 
the East branch. 

On the 23d of Feb. 1808, the West part of 
the town obtained an act of mcorporation as 
the Second Parish in Marlborough ; and on 
the 5th of March the West Church was organ- 
ized. On the 23^ of March, Rev. Asa Pack- 
ard was installed over the Church as its first 
Pastor, and retained his pastoral office until 
May 12, 1819. He afterwards removed to 
Lancaster in this State, where he resided until 
his death. 

Thus ended this unhappy strife, in which for 
several years the town had been involved. Its 
effects were most disastrous, and are still felt, 
even after the lapse of half a century. In the 
erection of two Houses of worship, and in the 
expense of advocating and opposing the divi- 



47 

sion of the town, there must have been a cost 
of between thirty and forty thousand dollars ; 
and some families became straitened and almost 
impoverished by their lavish expenditures in 
carrying out a favorite plan. But worse than 
all this, and more injurious, were the feuds that 
sprung up ; the bitterness of feeling awakened ; 
the personal hostilities that were enkindled and 
carried to the grave ; and the local jealousies 
which, perhaps even now, are not entirely 
extinct. Religious interests were involved in 
the strife, and religion also suffered. It was a 
great hindrance to the spread of genuine piety, 
and for a long time was felt as an obstacle to 
the progress of the kingdom of Christ. 

Mr. Packard, as has already been stated, was 
born in Bridgewater. At the age of sixteen, 
he entered the revolutionary army as a lifer. 
In an engagement near Harlem Heights, a 
companion who had made great boasts of his 
valor, seizing Mr. Packard's fife and giving him 
his musket in return, fled to a place of safety. 
Mr. Packard faced the enemy and engaged in 
the conflict, but soon received a wound which 
it was thought would prove fatal. The ball 
entered his back just above the hip ; and 
though an attempt was made to extract it, yet 
5 



48 

so severe was the operation, that the surgeon 
feared he would die in his hands, and was 
obliged to desist. A severe illness followed in 
consequence, and when sufficiently recovered, 
he left the army and returned home. When 
his health was fully restored, he commenced a 
course of preparation for the ministry, and was 
graduated at Harvard College. 

He married a daughter of Josiah Quincy of 
Braintree, in what is now the town of Quincy, 
with whom he lived more than half a century. 
They had six children, only two of whom now 
survive. 

One who had every opportunity of knowing 
his opinions, and whose near relationship to 
him gives authority to speak on the subject, 
makes the following statement in regard to his 
religious sentiments. " When Mr. Packard 
was settled in Marlborough he was called an 
Arminian, but after his removal to Lancaster, 
he united with the Orthodox Church then in 
existence in the town of Bolton. After that 
had become extinct, many of its members uni- 
ted with the church in Lancaster, and he aided 
in the establishment of that now flourishing 
church, and was a cheerful supporter of it until 
his decease. It is due to him to say, that he 



49 

never was a Unitarian, and when lie heard of 
the first minister who denied the doctrhie of 
the Atonement, he remarked with tears, that 
without it, the Bible was to him a dead letter.'* 

Perhaps, after all, it would be more correct 
to say, that he had neve£ formed for himself 
any definite system of doctrinal belief His 
mind was more distinguished for its readiness, 
than for its method ; and he seems to have held 
opinions in regard to different doctrines which 
were not consistent with each other, and which 
could not be combined into a logical system. 
Different persons who have known him well, 
have for this reason classed him with dift'erent 
denominations ; since on some points, his views 
seemed to coincide with the Unitarian, and on 
others with the Orthodox Standards of doc- 
trine. This was the view entertained of his 
theological opinions, by one of the most dis- 
tinguished preachers of New England. 

Mr. Packard's death was very sudden. He 
had been in his usual health ; and on coming 
in from his usual business, sat down to listea 
to a letter from a distant brother. While it 
was being read to him, he sunk back and im- 
mediately expired. He died March 20, 1843, 
aged 85 years. His wife died on the third of 



50 

the February following — of the mfirmities of 
age — at the advanced age of 80 years. 

It will be appropriate here to mention the 
Funds which belong to the church. Tradition 
says, that during the ministry of Rev. Mr. 
Brimsmead, Bethia Woods, daughter of James 
Woods, left a legacy to this church of five 
pounds This sura was put on interest and 
almost forgotten, till in the year 1802 some 
circumstance recalled it to mind, and inquiry 
was made in regard to it. The note was found 
among the papers belonging to the church, 
given by a brother then deceased ; but on the 
face of the note were certain original and 
unaccountable defects, besides having been 
outlawed a number of years. But the son, 
believing that his father once signed the note, 
offered to pay the principal and half the inter- 
est, amounting to more than twenty dollars. 
After using a part of it for defraying some 
church expenses, thirteen dollars and fifty-eight 
cents remained in the treasury of the church. 
This sum suggested the idea of raising a Fund 
for the relief of indigent members of the 
church, and it was at once increased by sub- 
scriptions until it amounted to one hundred 
and fifty dollars. At the division of the church ' 



51 

into the East and West churches, this Fund 
was equally divided between them. The Fund 
was called the " VS'oods Fund," in honor of its 
first contiibutor, and is left in the hands of the 
Deacons of the church as Trustees. 

Previous to the division, Flannah Priest of 
this town left a bequest of one hundred dollars 
to the church, of' which this church received 
fifty dollars. After the division, Dea. Samuel 
Howe left to this church the sum of one hun^ 
dred dollars ; and both these legacies were 
expended iu 1«32, by vote of the church, for 
the support of preaching. The only Funds 
now belontifing: to the church are the " Woods 
Fund," and the Goodale Fund, to be mentioned 
hereafter. 

After Mr. Packard's dismission, the church 
listened to several candidates for settlement 
without being able to unite on any one as their 
minister. Among these was Mr. Edward Pay- 
son, afterwards of Portland, who commenced 
his ministry in this place. He was licensed to 
preach May 20, 1807, and May 24:th preached 
his first sermon. The following is an extract 
from his Journal, referring to that day. 

" Was favored with considerable fervency, life, and 
sense of dependence, this morning. Endeavored to cast 
5* 



52 

myself wholly on the Lord for support. Felt thankful it 
was rainy. There were very few people at meeting ; and 
I just got through without stopping. Spoke too fast and 
too low. Was a good deal depressed after meeting. In 
the afternoon, did a little better, but still bad enough . 
Was very much fatigued and almost in a fever ; but en- 
joyed some comfort after meeting." 

Mr. Pay son supplied the pulpit thirteen Sab- 
baths, and during that time gave abundant 
indications of his superior abilities and faith- 
fulness as a preacher. A number of conver- 
sions took place during this period ; and several 
persons now survive who regard him as the 
instrument of leading them to Christ. As a 
large part of his hearers did not sympathize 
with his doctrinal- views, and his pointed and 
impressive style of preaching, he never received 
a call. His last sermon was preached from 
Luke 19: 41, 42. 

Mr. Sylvester F. Bucklin of Rehoboth was 
the sixth minister of this church, and the first 
after its division. He was a graduate of Brown 
University in 1805, and was ordained Nov. 2, 
1808. Rev. Mr. Hill of Rehoboth, offered the 
Introductory Prayer ; Rev. Mr. Clark of Nor- 
ton preached the Sermon ; Rev. Mr. Adams of 
Acton gave the Charge ; the Consecrating 
Prayer was offered by Rev, Mr. Kellogg of 



53 

Framingham ; Rev. Mr. Ripley of Con- 
cord gave the Right Hand of Fellowship ; 
and Rev. Mr. Foster of East Sudbury offered 
the Concluding Prayer. The sermon, from 
Luke 2 : 49, together Avith the Charge and 
Right Hand of Fellowship, were published and 
are still preserved. Mr. Bucklin's Salary was 
^600. 

Only two or three references to Sacred Music 
have been found in the Records of the Church. 
In 1793 the church voted to follow its usual 
custom of reading the Hymn or Psalm, line by 
line. In 1807, a Committee was chosen to 
report on " what regulations are proper in 
regard to singing on Sacramental occasions ; 
who shall perform and what tunes V '\ he first 
recorded action of this Parish in regard to it 
was in Oct. 1808, when the society '' voted to 
hire Master Sanger one week, to teach the 
singers in the Parish, previous to the ordina- 
tion. This indicates that choir singing had 
already been adopted. 

Prayer Meetings began to be held from time 
to time as early as about 1810 ; but there is no 
record of any such meeting being established 
by vote of the Church, and at stated seasons, 
until lb21. 



54 

The " Female Benevolent Society " was 
formed Dec. 31, 1817. "The Ladies met at 
Mr. Thaddeus Warren's and formed themselves 
into a Society, and elected the following officers 
for the current year, viz : 

Persis Goodale, 1st Directress; Lucy Howe, 
2d Directress ; Sophia \\'arren, Treasurer ; 
Lucy Goodale, Cor. & Rec. Sec. ; Sophia Rice, 
Meliscent Warren, and Catharine Bruce, Man- 
agers. 

The first Sabbath School was commenced in 
connection with this church. May 31, 1818. 
It was held for a number of years in the old 
School House which stood a few rods south 
west from the Meeting House. Mr. David 
Goodale was the first Superintendent, and was 
assisted by Mr. Samuel Witt, Miss Sophia Rice, 
Miss Persis Goodale, Miss Lucy Goodale, Miss 
Lucy Howe and Miss Sophia Warren as teach- 
ers. Mr Bucklin being absent on exchange, 
Rev. Dr. Puffer of Berlin opened the school 
with an address to the teachers and scholars, 
and at the close of his remarks offered prayer. 
The school then consisted of 44 scholars, 8 
boys and 36 girls, the oldest scholar being 
only 13 years of age. The first class studied 
" Cummings' Questions on the New Testa- 



55 

meiit ;" the second class, " Emerson's Cate- 
chism;" the third class, "Evangelical and 
Familiar Catechism." Any parent had the 
privilege of selecting any other Catechism for 
his children, or any part of the Bible which 
he wished them to commit to memory. 

In the early history of the school, the fol- 
lowing method was adopted to induce the 
scholars to commit passages of Scripture and 
hymns to memory. Tickets were procured by 
the Superintendent, representing in value 
three, six, twelve or fifty cents, and the scholar 
was rewarded with one of these, according to 
the amount he was able to recite. When the 
tickets thus obtained amounted to a sufficient 
sum, the value of them in the form of a book, 
or some other useful article, was given to the 
pupil. This method probably had a strong 
influence at that time in increasing and retain- 
inof the members of the school. 

In June 1818, a subscription paper was put 
in circulation which read as follows : " Deem- 
ing no sacrifice too great to promote the benev- 
olent object for w^hich the Son of God became 
incarnate ; we the subscribers resolve to con- 
tribute annually whatever is affixed to our 
names for the encouragement ol those children 



56 

in Marlborough who will commit to memory 
their Catt^chism, hymns, or portions of the 
Sacred Scriptures, and will devote their little 
earnings in this way for the education of a hea- 
then child at Ceylon, to be named Sylvester 
Fuller Buckling 

The Sabbath School was for a long time 
under the direct control of the church ; but in 
1853 the church voted to leave the school to 
make choice of its superintendent, without the 
usual nomination on their part. 

In May 1818, the church voted to choose a 
Committee of three to examine candidates for 
admission to the church, and also for receiving 
the Baptismal Covenant. Previous to this 
time, there was really no examination in regard 
to doctrinal belief or religious experience. A 
wish was expressed to the Pastor of uniting 
with the church, and sometimes a written com- 
munication was made to him and read before 
the church, and the candidate was received. 
The church had no Articles of Faith, and of 
course no standard of doctrine except the one 
contained in the Covenant. The appointment 
of this Committee produced these two benefi- 
cial results ; it led to greater care in receiving 
only those who gave good evidence of genuine 



57 

piety ; and also very soon abolished the prac- 
tice of offering children for Baptism under the 
Half-Way Covenant. In Jan. 1827, it was 
voted that those coming from other churches, 
should appear before the Church Committee 
for examination. 

The South Middlesex Conference of churches 
was formed August 20, 182cS. This church 
became connected with it on the 8th of October 
of the same year. On the 5th of October, the 
following resolutions were adopted : 

**lst. Resolved, that this Church approve of church con- 
ferences, and when rightly managed, believe them to be 
well calculated to promote practical piety." '* 2d. Re- 
solved, that this church request a union with the South 
Middlesex Conference, which is to meet at Framingham 
next Wednesday." 

July 11th, 1830. "The church voted that 
they approve of the change taking place in 

I the community with regard to wearing mourn- 
ing apparel on funeral occasions ; and that 
they engage for themselves, and to use their 
influence with their families to induce them 
also, to dispense with it on such occasions." 
This church began to make contributions to 



58 

During Mr. Bucklin's ministry, there were 
not wanting evidences of the special blessing 
of God. There were two seasons of special 
religious interest, and on each occasion 29 
were gathered into the church as the precious 
fruits of Christian labor. It was during this 
period also that those differences of opinion 
became so marked and manifest, which dis- 
turbed the peace and harmony of so many 
churches, and led to the dismission of so many 
faithful pastors It was also during his minis- 
try that the custom so generally prevailed of 
holding what were termed " Protracted Meet- 
ings," and which were then thought to be pro- 
ductive of great good, but which are now gen- 
erally regarded as of but doubtful expediency. 
Meetings of this kind were held by this church 
during the year 1832, and several were hope- 
fully converted. 

Mr. Bucklin was dismissed June 20, 1832, 
and has never been settled a second time. The 
Council expressed in their result the utmost 
confidence in his christian and ministerial char- 
acter, and cordially recommended him to the 
confidence of the churches. Since his dismis- 
sion he has resided among the people of his 
first and only charge, flourishing in a green old 



59 

age, and enjoying the respect and affection of 
the entire community in which he lives. And 
it deserves to be made a matter of special 
record, that although a retired minister, he has 
always sought the best interests of this church 
and society, and his successors in the ministry 
have always found him a firm friend and an 
active and cheerful assistant. No one has had 
reason to complain, that he has sought to in- 
jure their influence or counteract their useful- 
ness. 

Immediately after the dismission of Rev. Mr. 
Bucklin, those differences of opinion began 
openly to manifest themselves which resulted 
in the division of so many churches in this 
Commonwealth. The question which now 
divided the society, was, whether their minis- 
ters in future should be men of Orthodox or 
Liberal sentiments. I'he party which desired 
a thorough evangelical ministry, were a major- 
ity of the church but a minority of the socie- 
ty ; and finding it impossible to secure their 
object, took measures to form themselves into 
a separate society. On the 18th of March, 
1»'33, a paper was filed with the Clerk of the 
First Parish, certifying that about fifty of its 
former members had withdrawn, and formed 
6 



60 

themselves into " The First Evangelical Con- 
gregational Society." On the 1st of April, 
1833, the church voted to worship with this 
Society; and 73 out of the 91 members with- 
drew from their connection with the First Par- 
ish. The First Parish and remaining church 
members held by law the Meeting House and 
the Church Property ; a church was organized; 
and Mr. Bucklin was employed to supply their 
pulpit for the year. 

The Evangelical Society, and the branch of 
the church connected with it, invited Mr. 
Charles Forbush to become their Pastor. He 
accepted the invitation, and was ordained Aug. 
21, 18 3. 

Early in 1834, proposals were made by a 
Committee of the First Parish to the Deacons 
of that branch of the church connected with 
the Evangelical Society, for a union of the two 
Societies. These proposals not being satisfac- 
tory to this branch of the church, the Deacons 
and the Committee recommended that both 
Societies unite in calling a mutual council 
to advise on what conditions they should be- 
come united. As a preliminary step, it was 
demanded by the First Parish, that Mr. For- 
bush should be dismissed, and they in turn, 



61 

pledged themselves to favor the settlement of 
any man, for whom two thirds of the Evangeli- 
cal Society would vote. 

This Council was convened March 19, 1834, 
and the foil )wing questions were submitted to 
them for their decision '' 1st. Shall the church 
belonging to the Evangelical Society unite vvitli 
the church belonging to the First Parish, or 
vice versa ; or in what way shall the differen- 
ces between them be adjusted or a union effec- 
ted ? 2d. What disposition shall be made of 
the property belonginji^ to the church at the 
time Mr. Bucklin was dismissed." 

The Council embodied the substance of their 
result in these words : 

" The Council cannot advise the church connected with 
the Evangelical Society to ^o back to the house of the 
First Parish, because, as they believe, it is not expedient to 
make it a ho ise of worship fur any Society. And should 
it be altered and repaired, it may still be the property of 
the First Parish, and as such, be under its unlimited con- 
trol. But we do recommend that the church connected 
with the Evangelical Society shall receive into fellowship 
those members who worship with the First Parish, on such 
terms as the said church shall deem consistent with the 
principles of truth and harmony." 

The union of the two branches of the orig" 
inal church, was not however yet effected. It 



62 

was not decided, whether both branches were 
true churches, or only one ; and if one, which 
one ; and besides, the difficulties had been 
greatly increased from the fact, that a member 
had been received from a Unitarian church and 
promoted to the office of a Deacon in one 
branch, whom the other branch could not fel- 
lowship in that position. A Council was there- 
fore called, March l-i, 1836, which decided that 
both branches were churches, although they 
were not prepared to sanction all the steps, or 
approve all the circumstances of the separa- 
tion. It was recommended, also, that Articles 
of Faith be drawn up for the members of both 
churches to sign ; and as the Deacon above 
mentioned offered to resign his office on condi- 
tion that a union be effected, the remaining 
Deacons should be considered the officers of 
the one united church. On the L'^th of March, 
both churches met in convention and " voted 
unanimously to accept the advice and result of 
the council." The Deacons then presented the 
" Articles of Faith, eleven in number, which 
were read and acted upon one at a time, and 
every article was acted upon and signed just 
as presented." " 'i bus the two branches of 
the church, which had been separated since 



1 



63 

April 1st, 1833, are now united into one 
church." 

The First Parish, and the " First Evangel- 
ical Congregational Society," petitioned the 
Legislature to be incorporated as the " Union 
Society;" and on the 1st of April 1835, they 
held their first meeting and voted to receive 
the Act of Incorporation. 

April 29, 1835, the Union Society voted to 
take down the old Meeting House which had 
been standing since 1806, and erect a new one 
on nearly the same spot. This new House 
was dedicated Sept. 15, 1836. 

As the First Parish made it a condition of 
union, that Mr. Forbush should be dismissed, 
his connection with the Evangelical Society 
was dissolved March 26, 1834, by an Ecclesi- 
astical Council. He was soon afterwards in- 
stalled over the Congregational Church in 
Northbridge. 

In October of the same year, a call was given 
to Rev, Joseph Fuller to settle with them in 
the ministry, but the call was declined. 

On the 24:th of April 1836, the church "vot- 
ed that the name of this church be changed 
from the East Church in Marlborough to 
the Union Church in Marlborough, to cor- 
6* 



64 

respond with the name of the Union Society, 
with which we are connected." 

In removing the old Meeting House, and 
erecting the new one, some very serious and 
unexpected difficulties were encountered. The 
Meeting House was claimed by the town, be- 
cause the town had built it ; it was claimed by 
the pew holders, in part at least, because they 
had property invested in it ; it was also claimed 
by the Society, because they had the control of 
it. But a law had been passed in April 1834, 
abolishing the old method of meeting ministe- 
rial and Parish expenses, and establishing our 
present Parish system, and the rule of taxation 
for its support. According to the provisions 
of this law it was found, that the House now 
belonged to the Parish and not to the Town, and 
that only the pew holders had any real claim 
upon it. A Committee of disinterested per- 
sons was therefore chosen to appraise the pews, 
and the amount of the appraisal of each pew 
was tendered to its owner in the presence of 
witnesses. In this manner, after a very severe 
struggle, the Society gained complete control 
of the Meeting House, with full liberty to 
repair or remove it as they pleased. In accom- 
plishing this object, and in erecting the new 



1 



i 



65 

House, no one was probably so active and so 
influential, as the late Dea. David Goodale. 

Rev. John N. Goodhue was the first pastor 
settled over the Union Church. He was grad- 
uated at Amherst College in the year 1^30, 
and was ordained pastor of this Church May 
4, 1836. The order of exercises at his ordina- 
tion were as follows : Introductory services, 
Eev. Mr. Cross of Boxboro' ; Prayer by Rev. 
Mr. Long of Milford ; Sermon by Rev. Hub- 
bard Winslow of Boston ; Ordaining Prayer, 
by Rev. Mr. Hyde of Wayland ; Charge to the 
Pastor by Rev. Mr. Phinney of Westboro' ; 
Fellowship of the Churches, by Rev. Mr. Paine 
of Holden ; Address to the People, by Rev. 
Mr. Fay of Northboro' ; Concluding Prayer, by 
Rev. Mr. Trask of Framingham. His Salary 
was ^600. 

Mr. Goodhue's ministry was short, lasting 
only a little more than three years ; but brief 
as it was, it was yet long enough to show his 
ability as a preacher, his faith iulness as a pas- 
tor, his usefulness as a minister of the Gospel, 
and also to secure for him an affectionate and 
lasting remembrance in the hearts of his peo- 
ple. The Church Records have the following 
notice under the date of Sept. 13, 1839. ''At 



66 

3 o'clock P. M., our Pastor, Rev. John N. Good- 
hue, died of typhus fever, after an illness of 
three weeks. He ministered to us, before and 
after ordination, three years and a half, and died 
beloved and lamented, aged 29 1 years." 

On the last Sabbath that he preached to his 
people, he delivered three sermons from Eccl. 
9:10: " Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, 
do it with thy might ; for there is no work, 
nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the 
grave whither thou goest." These sermons, 
which he preached with unusual earnestness 
and solemnity, proved to be his last earthly 
labor. He retired from his pulpit to sicken 
and die. The singular energy manifest in the 
delivery of his sermons was probably the first 
stages of that feverish and fatal delirium, which 
was soon to settle down upon and cloud his 
reason. These discourses were published after 
his death, together with a " Tribute " to his 
memory, which appeared in the Boston Recor- 
der, from which the following extracts are 
taken. 

** As a preacher, Mr. Goodhue was clear, plain, pungent, 
always energetic, often very powerful. His views of di- 
vine truth were bold and original, his illustrations of doc 
trine, of which his sermons were full, were uncommonly 



i 



67 

apt and striking, and his application of truth to the con- 
sciences of his hearers were generally of that convincing 
kind from which there is no escape. Doctrinal preaching 
was his forte. Strictly evang'lical, without narrowness 
or iliib?rality, jealous for what he considered God's mes- 
sage to his creatures, unda ;nted in its advocacy, impatient 
of the pr valence of error, yet resisting it in the spirit of 
a Christian, he delii;hted in going down into the gospel 
and bringing up fro 11 thence some great neglected doc- 
trine, and then endeavoring to wield it in the name of the 
Lord. 

" Mr. Goodhue's mind was emphatically a readt/ mind. 
' Semper parat is ' — alicti/s ready — was his mt»tto. Hence 
his remarkable yZw^wcv/, in preaching, in prayer, in conver- 
sation. His memory was not merely uncommon, it was 
vast. He could remember the plans of all the sermons 
he ever wrote, and could repeat passages from his favorite 
authors, for hours, without exhaustion. 

" As a pastor, too m ich cannot be said in praise of the 
departed. He was always about his Master's business — 
instant in season, out of season — wholly devoted to his 
p'ople. The sick, the dying, the aged, the infirm were 
the objects of his constant care. His only error in the 
pastoral work was that too common error of the youthful 
clergy of the present day, attempting to do too much at 
once.'' 

" After preaching on the last Sabbath, " intense pains 
soon settled in his head, and in lour days he was placed on 
a bed of fevered anguish, his reason clouded and at times 
shrouded in delirium. But in all and under all he was 
submissive and patient as a little child Many a sweet 
prayer he made upon that bed of death, and many a holy 



68 

thought escaped his lips. Much of the time he evidently 
thought himself in his p-^lpit, and would then proceed reg- 
ularly through the services of public worship, praying for 
every body, singing with the choir, naming the text, and 
delivering the sermon throughout with great accuracy and 
force. At times, after a paroxysm of pain, he was heard 
to say, ' Come, Lord Jesus, cume quickly.' Half an hour 
before his death, he seemed to be in the company of invis- 
ble beings, and with great earnestness would exclaim, 
' Oh the angels, the angels ! ' And so he died Sept. 1 3th 
1839, Aged 29 years." 

The Church and Society erected a Monu- 
ment to his memory. 

During Mr. Goodhue's ministry there were 
eeasons of special religious interest. In the 
year 1887, more than torty were received to 
this church, some by letter, but by far the larg- 
est number on profession of their faith. Many 
of these were converted through the instru- 
mentality of Mr. Goodhue's labors. 

Oct. 21, 1886. '^ Voted that the Deacons 
of the church should be ex officio members of 
the Examining Committee." 

" Voted that candidates for admission to the 
church, after having been examined by the 
Committee and approved by them, shall be 
proposed to the church as soon as convenient ; 
ana if no objection is offered, they shall be 



69 

publicly propounded to the church two weeks 
previous to admission, and be voted into the 
church at the Preparatory 1 ecture as C'hurch 
members, after having assented to the Articles 
of Faith and having taken upon them the 
Covenant." 

In the year 1 836. a donation was made to 
this church by Hon. Job (joodale of Bernards- 
ton, Franklin County, who was a native of this 
town, and formerly a member of this church. 
The bequest runs as follows : 

" I give, bequeath and devise to Jonatlian Hapgood, 
Ezekiel Bruce, and David Gobdale, Deacons of the Trini- 
tarian Congregalional Church in Marlborough, and to their 
successors in said office, — the Temple P^'arm so called, 
lying in the easterly part of said Marlborough, containing 
about one hundred acres ; also about six acres of land, 
lying southwesterly about one hundred rods from the same, 
which I boLight of Henian Stowe ; to be held by said 
Hapgood, Brace, and Goodale, and their successors in said 
office of Deacons forever, — in trust to and for the use and 
support, so far as the income of the same will go, of a 
stated, settled, Orthodox minister of the Gospel in said 
Parish and Society." 

In Nov. 1836, this farm was sold to Richard 
Hemenway of Framingham, for ^'1600. The 
church voted that the money arising from the 
sale of this farm be kept as a fund, and that it 



70 

be called the " Good.ile Fund.'' The following 
year, Deacon Goodale offered to the church a 
deed of the place which he had bouglit of 
James Woods, on condition that he should 
receive from the church the obligations which 
they held against Mr. Hemenway The church 
" voted to accept the offer and make the ex- 
change, for the purpose of having a Parsonage 
for our Pastor." This place was afterwards 
sold, and the original Fund is now invested in 
the present Parsonage. This, with the Woods 
Fund before mentioned, are the only Funds 
belonging at present to this church. 

September 1, 1887, we have the following 
Recoid. " Our Pastor and Rev. S. F. Bucklin, 
having been previously appointed a Committee 
to revise the Church Covenant and By-Laws, 
and to prepare a copy of the Articles of Faith 
for the press, presented their Report, which was 
accepted ; the Covenant and By-Laws being 
voted in, one by one, the Articles of Faith 
having been previously adopted in the same 
way." 

'J he Brimsmead Covenant, with a few verbal 
changes, had been used from the formation of 
the church until this time; but this church 
had no Articles of faith until March 18, 1836. 



71 

This form of the Covenant and Articles of Faith 
are still in use at the time this sketch closes. 
It ill list not be stipposed however, that, b cause 
the church hud no distinct Articles of Faith, 
it had no standard of doctrinal belief The 
Covenant reff^js to the C-atechisms as the sys- 
tem of doctrine which the church adoi)ted ; 
and all its members bound themselves to in- 
struct their chllureu out of these orthodox 
standards. 

The views of this church in regard to the 
E(^forms of the dvy, v^ill be seen from the fol- 
lovvmg Kesoiutions : 

October 28. 1836. "Voted that in fiture, candidates 
for admission to this ('hurch, shull pledge themstbes to 
abstain from the use of distilled spirit, except as a medi- 
cine." This was incorporaied into the Rules adopted 
April 1, 18a7. 

February 20, 1840. " Resolved, 1st That rc^garding 
Slavery, in all itsf)r!ns and uiler all the circumstances in 
which it is at this moment upheld and p'-act^'sed in our 
country, as a sm of awful magnitude in the sight of God — 
as in most dii ect opposition to the precepts of our holy 
religion — as a tremendous obstacle to the spread of th© 
Gospel of Ch ist, and as having a dire t and power ul ten- 
dency to corrupt the purify, disturb the harmony, and 
destroy tiie influence of the Church we will not ktiowing- 
ly suffer a slavehold ng minister to enter our Pulpit, nor 
a slaveholding professor to sit at our Co.nmunion Table." 
7 



72 

*' Resolved 2d, That the cause of the slave is ent'tled to 
the sympathies the contributions and the prayers of all, 
and we hereby add the Massachusetts Abolition Society to 
the list of Benevolent Societies to which we have pledged 
our countenance and support." 

In February 1840, Mr. J. Addison Saxton 
was invited to become pastor of this church, 
but the invitation was declined. 

December 2, 1840, Mr. George E. Day of 
New Haven, a graduate of Yale College and 
of the Theological Seminary connected with 
that Institution, was ordained pastor of this 
church. The order of exercises were as follows : 

Introductory Services, Rev. Mr. Cummings 
of Southboro' ; Prayer, Rev. Mr. Hosford, Sax- 
on ville ; Sermon, Rev. Dr. Bacon, New Haven ; 
Consecrating Prayer, Rev. Mr. Cummings ; 
Charge to the Pastor, Rev. Mr. Brigham, Fra- 
mingham ; Fellowship of the Churches, Rev. 
Mr. Buckingham, Millbury ; Concluding Pray- 
er, Rev. E. P. Dyer, Stow ; Benediction by the 
Pastor. 

Mr. Day was dismissed December 23, 1847, 
to become pastor of the Edwards Church, North- 
am ,)r on. From that place he was called to a 
Professorship in Lane Theological Seminary, 
where he still remains. 



73 

Kev. David L. Ogden was installed pastor of 
this church April 26, 1848. The several parts 
of public services were assigned by the Coun- 
cil as follows : 

Introductory Services, Rev. Mr. Tarbox, 
Framingham ; Sermon, Rev. Mr. Griggs, Mill- 
bury; Installing Prayer, Rev. Mr. Houghton, 
Northboro' ; Charge to the Pastor, Rev. Mr. 
Adams, Berlin ; Fellowship of the Churches, 
Rev. Mr. Rawson, Southboro' ; Address to the 
People, Rev. Mr Day, Northampton ; Conclu- 
ding Prayer, Rev. Mr. Cooke, Stow ; Benedic- 
tion by the Pastor. 

Mr. Ogden was dismissed July 23, 1850, and 
now resides in New Haven. 

Rev. George Denham, now of Barre, Mass., 
preached as a Stated Su{)ply from the last of 
July ISoO. until the first of April KSo3. 

During the summer of l8o2, the Meeting 
House was thoroughly repaired at an expense 
of about ^ I (){)(), and furnished with a new 
organ. It was opened for public si-rvice at the 
Preparatory Lecture, September 17th On the 
evening of Wednesday, November lOth, it was 
discovered to be on tire, and in a short time 
was entirely destroyed. No satisfactoiy expljv- 
nation has ever been given of the origin of the 



74 

fire, but it is generally supposed to have been 
the woik of an incendiary. 

Measures were taken by the Society during 
the succeeding winter for the erection of a new 
House on the same spot. It was commenced 
in the Spring of 1853, and completed in 
August of the same year, at a cost of more 
than ;^10,000. 

Rev. Levi A. Field, the present pastor, a 
native of Leverett, and a graduate of Amherst 
College and of Andover I'heological Seminary, 
commenced preaching to this Society on the first 
Sabbath in April 1853. He was ordained the 
31st of August of the same year, when the new 
church was first opened for public worship ; 
the ordination and dedication being included in 
one service. The order of public services on 
that occasion were as follows: 

Introductory Exercises, Rev. Mr. Ashley, 
Northboro' ; Dedicatory Prayer, Rev Mr. Cady, 
Westboro' ; Sermon, Prof. Austiu Phelps, An- 
dover ; Ordaining Prayer, Rev. Mr. Northrop, 
Saxonville; Charge to the Pastor, Rev. Dr. 
Ely, Monson ; Fellowshi[) of the Churches, 
Eev. Mr. Morse, Brim field ; Address to the 
People, Rev. Mr. Bodwell, Pramingham ; Con- 
cluding Prayer, Rev. Mr. Spear, Sudbury ; 
Benediction by the Pastor. 



75 

At this point we brinpj this brief and imper- 
fect sketch to a close. We have followed along 
the course of this history, sometimes smooth 
and sometimes troubled, for a period of almost 
two hundred years. No friend of the church 
can fail to lament the strifes and divisions 
which facts have compelled us to record ; yet 
some of these have involved questions of prin- 
ciple which she felt compelled to maintain, and 
in doing it, she has been purified and strength- 
ened. This church has never been distin- 
guished for any remarkable displays of the 
agency of God's renewing and sanctifying 
Spirit ; and yet there have been all alonj^ in 
her history, seasons of spiritual refreshing, 
manifest tokens of divine favor and converting 
grace. She has been blessed for the most part 
with a devoted and faithful ministry, and some- 
times with men of preeminent ability and 
learning, and their labors have been owned and 
accepted of God. We cannot but express the 
hope, that those seasons of severe trial and bit- 
ter contention which have marred her earlier 
records, have forever passed away, and that 
henceforth her course is to lead over calmer 
and smoother seas. But if in future years she 
shall be made to pass through those scenes by 
7* 



76 

which God disciplines his children ; if ever she 
shall meet with losses, or even be rent asunder 
in her efforts to preserve inviolate the purity of 
her doctrine ; we can only ask that she enjoy 
the same Presence, and be led by the same 
powerful Hand, which guided and strengthened 
our fathers. 



APPENDIX. 



The following list embraces all the pastors of this church, 
with the date of their settlement, and also of their dia 
mission or decease. 



William Brimsmead, 

RoBEKT Breck, 

Benjamin Kent, 

Aakon Smith, 

Asa Packard, 
Sylvester F. Bucklin, 
Charles Forbush, 
John N. Goodhue, 
George E. Day, 
David L. Ogden, 



f Set. Oct 3. 1666. 
\ Died, July 3,1701. 
( Set. Oct. 25, 1704. 
\ Died, Jan. 6, 1731. 
(Set. Oct. 27, 1733. 
JDis. Feb 4, 1735. 
( Set. June 11, 1740. 
\ Dis. April 29, 1778. 
i Set. March 23, 1785. 
\ Dis. April 10, 1806. 
t Set. Nov. 2, 1808. 
\ Dis. June 20, 1832. 
i Set. Aug. 21, 1833. 
\ Dis. March 26, 1834. 
(Set. May 4, 1836. 
I Died, Sept. 13, 1839. 
i Set. Dec. 2d, 1840. 
\ Dis. Dec. 23, 1847. 
i Set. April 26, 1848. 
\ Dis. July 23, 1850. 



Levi A. Field, | Set. Aug. 31, 1853. 

The following is a list of those who have held the 
office of deacon in this church, with the date of their elec- 
tion and decease, and also their age so far as is kno^VIl. 



78 



Edward Rice, 
John Woods, 
Joseph Newton, 
James Woods, 
Caleb Rice, 
Thomas Keyes, 
John Barnes, 
James Woods, 

Stevens, 

Andrew Rice, 
Joseph Tayntor, 
Daniel Barnes, 
Samuel Stow, 
Simon Stow, 
Thomas Howe, 
Samuel Howe, 
Abner Goodale, 
JosiAH Howe, 



Elected, 

Died, Aug. 15, 1752. 
Elected. Sept. — 1704. 
Died, 



Elected, June 1, 1710. 

Died, 

Elected, Aug. 9, 1716. 

Died, 

Elected, March 12, 1718. 
Died, Jan. 5, 1739 aged 72. 
Elected, June 17, 1726. 

Died, 

Elected, April 17,1729. 

Died, 

Elected, May 22, 1741. 

Died, 

Elected, May 22, 1741. 

Died, 

Elected, Oct. 14, 1742. 
Died,Jan.l5,1775,aged72. 
Elected, Ang. 18, 1742. 
Died,P'eb.l9,1764.agM76. 
Elected, May 26, 1762. 
Died,Mar.24,1775,ag'd73. 
Elected Oct 17 1770. 
Died, Jan. 12,18 1 8 ag'd 89. 
Elected, Oct. 17, 1770. 
Died,Dec.l6, 1795, ag'd 73. 
Elected, March 20, 1776. 

hied, 

Elected. July 3, 1794. 
Died,July31,1820.ag'd71. 
Elected, July 3. 1794. 
Died,Mayl6,1823,ag'd68, 
Elected, Sept. 21,1796. 
Died,Jan.l5,1827,ag'd78. 



79 



Jonathan Hapgood, 
David Goodale, 
EzEKiEL Bruce, 
William E. Tidd, 
William Stetson, 
John E. Curtis, 
RuFus Howe, 



( Elected, Oct. 17. 1821. 
\ Died,Apr.l2,1849.ag'd90. 
( Elected Sept. 15. 1823. 
\ Died,Oct.l7,1858,ag'd67. 

I Elected, March 13, 1827. 

(Elected, Dec. 16, 1836. 
(Dis. May 2, 1851. 

I Elected, Dec. 1, 1853. 
I Elected, April 5, 1855. 
I Elected, July 2. 1858. 



The following list has been furnished me as including 
most, if not all, of those who originated in this place, and 
entered the ministry. 

David Barnes, son of Daniel Barnes, settled in Scituate. 

Benj. Brigham, son of Benj. Brigham, settled in Fitz- 
william, N. H. 

Jonathan Barnes, son of Jonathan Barnes, settled in 
Hillsborough, N. H. 

John Bruce, son of William Bruce, settled in Amherst, 
N. H. 

Perley Howe, son of Simon Howe, settled in Surrey, 
N. H. 

V^ illiam B. Stowe, son of Heman Stowe, settled in 
'Wilmington, Vt. 

David Goodale, son of Nathan Goodale, settled in Hal- 
ifax, N. H. 

Levi Brigham, son of Willard Brigham, settled in Saugus. 

Edward Warren, son of Thaddeus Warren, Missionary 
to Ceylon. 



80 

Jonathan Wilkin s. 



Willard Bri^^ham, son of VVillard Brigham, settled in 
"Waldt^borouiili. Vt. 

Waldo Stevens, son of Temple Stevens, settled in Mans- 
field. 

Of most of the persons contained in the foregoing list, 
I have no knowledge. How many of them are now liv- 
ing, or where is their present 1 ^cation, I am unable to say. 
In many cases the families are broken up and scattered, 
and inf .rmatioi in regard to them is very difficult to be 
obtained. Most of them however have long since finished 
their work. 

Two missionaries have originated in this place : Mr. 
Edward Warren, mentioned above as a missionary to Cey- 
lon ; and Miss Lucy Goodale, who b-came the wife of Rev. 
Mr. Thurston, missionary to the Sandwich Islands. Mr. 
Warren sailed for Ceylon in 181. 5, in company with 
Messrs. Meigs, Richards Bardwell and Poor ; he died in 
August 1818, at Cape Town, where he had gone for his 
health. Mrs. Thurston sailed with her husband for the 
Sandwich Islands in Oct. 1819, and still survives. 

A Methodist Ch-irch has existed in this town for 
more than fi^ty years. Early in the present century 
a Class was f .rmed by Mr. Phineas Sawyer at Felton 
ville, and meetings were held there from that time until 
1827, when a church was erected in the north part of the 
town. This church was burned late in the year 1852, 
and in the Autumn of 1853 their present church in the 
center of the town was opened for public service. 

The Baptist Socie^y commenced holding meetings in 
Feltonville in 1844; and in 1851, their present church 
was erected. 



81 

The Universalist Society commenced h(>lcUn<jj meetings 
in 1818, and continued them until the close of 1854. 
Their House of worship was erected in 1820. 

Several of the neighboring towns were taken from what 
was formerly embraced in Marlborou;^h, and of course 
their churches once had a close connection with this 
church. 

Westborough — so called from its including the section 
lying along the whole length of the west side of the orig- 
inal town of MarIbv>rough — was incorporated Nov. 18, 
1717. The church was formed Oct. 28, 1724, and on the 
same dny Kev. Ebenezer Parkinan, their first pastor was 
ordained. He continued to peiform the duties of the pas- 
toral office until within six weeks of bis doath, w'licb. oc- 
curred on the 9th of Dec. 1782, in the 80tli year of his 
ag3, and the fifty-ninth of his ministry. Hs married a 
daughter of Rev. Robert Breck of Marlborough. 

Northborougb — so called from its embracing the north 
part of ihe town of Westborough — was incorporated Oct. 
20, 1744. The first chirch was gathared in this town 
May 21, 1746, and on the same day Rev. John Martyn 
was ordained as their pastor. He retained the pastoral 
office until April 30th, 1767, when he died after a short 
sickness, in the sixty-first year of his age, and the twc;nty- 
first of his min'stry. Their second p.istor, Rev. Peter 
Whitney, was ordained Nov. 4th, 1767. 

Southborou:^h — -so called from its embracin'^ the south 
part of the anciint town of Marlborough — was incorpora- 
ted July 6th, 1727. The first church was organized Oct. 



82 

24th, 1730, and Rev. Nathan Stone was ordained their 
first pastor on the same day. He died May 31st, 1781, in 
the seventy-fourth year of his age, and the fifty-first of 
his ministry. Rev. Samuel Sumner, the second pastor, 
was settled June 1st, 1791. 



S E R M N , 

PEEACPIED IN MARLBOROUGH, MASS., 
Nov. 3, 1858, 



BY 

REV. SYLVESTER F. BUCKLIN, 

ON THE 

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY 

OF HIS ORDINATION, 

AS PASTOR OF THE EAST CHURCH IN THAT TOWN. 

WITH AN APPENDIX. 



WORCESTER: 
HENRY J. II O W L A N D, PRINTER, 

18 5 9. 



SEHMOISr. 



AND THOU SHALT REMEMBEll ALL THE WAY WHICH THE 
LORD THY GOD LED THEE. Deut. 8 : 2. 

The ways of Divine Providence, in the gov- 
ernment of the world, are often to us dark and 
mysterious. The dealings of God with his 
rational creatures are often covered with a veil 
too thick for the dim eye of reason to penetrate. 
The truth of this appears from his treatment 
of the children of Israel in the wilderness. 
No people were ever visited with greater trials, 
none ever experienced more signal deliveran- 
ces, and both these were designed to make them 
feel and acknowledge their dependence on and 
obligations to God. He led them forty years 
in the wilderness by his own hand, and 
although their course was indirect and circuit- 
ous, notwithstanding their many trials and dis- 
couragements, the mercy of God always pre- 
dominated. They were favored with many 
miraculous evidences of the Lord's special pros- 



ence with them, and regard for them. " He 
led them forth in the right way, that they 
might go to a city of habitation." It was on 
account of that series of blessings which fol- 
lowed the Israelites, those miraculous deliver- 
ances which they experienced, and trials they 
endured, that Moses required them to " remem- 
ber all the way which the Lord had led them." 
He well knew this would be fitted to humble 
them under a sense of their sins, and to lead 
them to exercise love, gratitude, and obedi- 
ence. 

The same duties are required of us. Every 
individual, and every community, is required to 
remember God's dealings with them. 

To review the past, to call to remembrance 
the various scenes through which we have been 
led, to see as we may and acknowledge the 
hand of God in them, is both instructive and 
profitable. " Days should speak, and multi- 
tude of years should teach wisdom. Consider 
the days of old, the years of many generations, 
which he commanded our fathers, that they 
should make them known unto their children. 
That the generation to come might know them; 
that they might set their hope in God and not 
forget the works of God." The blessings of 



God's common providence, their richness, vari- 
ety, and importance, added to his special inter- 
positions in their favor which all experience, 
would, if properly noticed, awaken gratitude 
in every heart, and lead to a devout and holy- 
life. Under a sense of these, David was 
pressed with a load of gratitude, of which he 
could unburden himseU" only by daily praise. 
" Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth us 
with benefits ; even the God of our salvation.'* 
Especially should those, whose days have been 
prolonged beyond the ordinary period of hu- 
man life, who have been carried safely through 
all its dano^ers and vicissitudes, carefully notice 
the dealings of God with them, be humbled 
under a sense of their great deficiencies in 
duty, and incited to constant gratitude and love. 
If we look back fifty years, and contemplate 
the changes and events which have taken place 
during that period, we shall see much that will 
interest us as individuals, and as a community. 
We may gather up many facts and lessons 
which will be useful to ourselves and to pos- 
terity. For this reason, I propose to review 
this portion of my history, as connected with 
this Church and Society ; not that there is any 
thing uncommon or remarkable in it, but I do 
8* 



it at the special request, and in deference to 
the opinion, of those in whose judgment I have 
been accustomed to confide. 

1. I commence, with my personal history. 
And here I would premise, that this is one of 
the occasions, in a person's life, when he feels 
justified in talking about himself. For this 
then, I shall make no apology. I was born, in 
the town of Rehoboth, now called Seekonk, in 
the south part of this State. I was the young- 
est of nine children, eight of whom lived to 
mature age ; seven were over sixty, five over 
seventy, and two over eighty years of age. A 
fact worthy of notice is, that no special sick- 
ness or death occurred in this family for nearly 
fifty years. My own age, is seventy-four years 
and four months, and I have never been con- 
fined by sickness a day since my remembrance, 
nor had occasion to consult a physician on 
account of my bodily health. " through help 
obtained of God, I continue unto the present 
day." I attribute my uninterrupted health to 
an originally strong constitution, an education 
on a farm, and to early acquired habits of reg- 
ularity and temperance. I have never allowed 
my usual hours for sleep to be interrupted. 
The Sabbath, I have always endeavored to 



reiTiGmber, and keep according to its original 
design. Besides being a religious duty, I have 
deemed it essential to health, as ^vell as to 
temporal and spiritual prosperity. No man 
should expect to prosper who desecrates the 
Sabbath, or who knowingly violates the laws 
of his physical constitution. 

My father died when I was six years old. 
I was then placed under the guardianship of 
my eldest brother, with whom I spent my child- 
hood and youth. It was my privilege to enjoy 
the instruction and example of a pious mother, 
and from my earliest recollection, I was the 
subject of serious impressions. These contin- 
ued until I entered College. The gaieties and 
follies of college life nearly effaced them, but 
they returned at a later period, and resulted, as 
I humbly trust, in an entire consecration of 
myself to the service of God. My early advan- 
tages for obtaining an education were limited. 
Living among a sparse population, I could 
attend school but a few months in a year. My 
time being occupied upon a farm, I had little 
leisure for reading or study. But a change 
took place in my situation which seemed entire- 
ly providential. A pious student* from Brown 

* Rev. Lucius Bollcs, D. D. 



University, was employed to instruct the dis- 
trict school where I resided. He was the first 
person that suggested to me the idea of pursu- 
ing a course of study, and through his influ- 
ence I was led to change my pursuits. Thus 
we see that a word may change the course of 
a person's life, and even their future destiny. 
" A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in 
pictures of silver." In one year from this time 
I commenced the preparatory studies, and in 
two and one half years entered Brown Univer- 
sity, and graduated in the class of 1805. 

After leaving College, I taught school for one 
year. I was undecided as to a profession. I 
had an ardent desire for the ministry, but 
shrunk from its responsibilities ; -and it was not 
until after some months spent in serious inquiry 
for the path of duty, and earnest prayer to be 
enlightened and directed, that I decided upon 
my profession, and entered my name with a 
private instructor.* After spending less than 
one year in the study of Theology, I was 
licensed to preach the gospel. A wide field of 
labor now opened before me, and I was willing 
to occupy any part of it. Some time was spent 
in gratuitous service, among my brethren in 

* Rev. Perez Forbes, D. D., L.L. D., of Raynham, Mass. 



the ministry, in preaching a few Sabhaths as a 
supply, and I was then invited to preach in this 
place. My first Sabbath here was June 26, 
1808. The day and the season were delight- 
fully pleasant. These hills and dales were 
clothed in their richest attire. The prospect 
from ihem, always enchanting, was now doubly 
so to me. I hailed from the sterile plains of 
Seekonk, and the contrast between that place 
and this, was as great, as between Mt. Zion and 
the Mts. of Gilboa. After preaching eight 
Sabbaths, I received an almost unanimous invi- 
tation from the Church and Society, to become 
their Pastor. This was unexpected to me, and 
for several reasons, undesirable. I wished for 
a longer time in which to qualify myself for 
the christian ministry. Then, in many respects, 
this w^as not an inviting field. The previous 
divisions, contentions, and alienations, which 
had here existed, were great discouragements. 
The Meeting House, which had recently been 
erected at great expense, designed to accom- 
modate the whole town, was much too large 
for the Society, and illy adapted to the comfort 
of the speaker, or benefit of the hearer. My 
youth, inexperience, and want of mental resour- 
ces, seemed to forbid my occupying so impor- 



10 

tant a position. But the unanimity which 
existed in the Church and Society ; the earnest 
solicitude manifested ; and the unhappy result 
which might follow a refusal to settle, induced 
me to give an affirmative answer on the 24th 
of September. November 2, fifty years since, 
I was ordained to the work of the christian 
ministry in this place, It was one of our most 
delightful autumnal days, and the Meeting 
House, for the first and last time, was filled with 
attentive hearers. The Ordaining Council con- 
sisted of ten churches. 

Introductory Prayer, by Rev. Joliii Hill of Rehoboth. 

Sermon, by Rev. Pitt Clark of Norton. 

Consecrating Prayer, by Rev. David Kellogg of Fra- 
mingham. 

Charge to the Pastor, by Rev. Moses Adams of Acton. 

Fellowship of the Churches, by Rev. Ezra Ripley of 
Concord. 

Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Joel Foster of East Sudbury. 

The Sermon, Charge and Right Hand of 
Fellowship, were published. 

2. I would next give some account of the 
religious state of things in this Church and 
Society, at the commencement of my ministry. 
Previous to my settlement, a long and bitter 
controversy, had existed in this place. The 
Meeting House, which had been standing for 



11 

more than one hundred years, had become di- 
lapidated, and a new house was needed. With 
regard to this, there was no diversity of opin- 
ion ; but when the question arose, where shall 
the new House be located, this could not so 
easily be decided. The old Church stood about 
one third of a mile west of the centre of travel 
on tlie county road. The majority of the town 
contended, that as they and their flxthers had 
for so many years travelled west of the centre, 
justice required that the new House should be 
located in the centre, as respected east and west. 
The West part of the town dissented. I'hey 
were willing to come as far east as the old 
Church, but no farther. Various propositions 
were made for a compromise, but to no pur- 
pose. A spirit of discord and dissension had 
arisen, and it triumphed over every persuasion 
or argument that could be presented. 

In 1805, a majority of the tow^n voted to 
locate the new House at Spring Hill, where 
this Flo use now stands ; a most ineligible spot, 
being a complete ledge of rocks, of the kind 
most difficult to remove. To obviate this objec- 
tion, and with the hope of conciliating the 
West part, individuals came forward and 
pledged themselves to prepare the spot in a 



12 

suitable manner for the erection of the House, 
in consideration of and exchange for the old 
Meeting-House Common, or the value thereof 
in money. The town accepted the proposal ; 
but finding the Common could not be sold, 
gave them the value of it in money, amounting 
to over six hundred dollars. The expense of 
preparing the site was estimated at nearly four 
thousand dollars. The inhabitants of the 
West part of the town persisted in their oppo- 
sition ; this resulted in the erection of two 
Meeting Houses the following year, one by the 
town at Spring Hill, the other by the inhabi- 
tants of the West part of the town, as far west 
of the site of the old Church as Spring Hill is 
east. Both houses were opened for public 
worship on the same day, April 27, 1806. At 
the time of the division of the town. Rev. Asa 
Packard was the minister. Soon after, he was 
dismissed, and installed over the West Church 
and Society. 

The Spring Hill Meeting House w\as one of 
the largest and most expensive then in the 
country ; it was said to have cost, (exclusive of 
the expense of preparing the site,) at a low 
estimate, twenty-one thousand dollars. No 
expense was spared, to make this an elegant 



13 

and imposing structure, as the West part of 
the town were ohHged to pay their full propor- 
tion for its erection. Both houses, including 
the expenses of separation, amounted to 
between thirty and forty thousand dollars. 
This was a tax which but few towns in the 
State could well sustain, and proved the cause 
of reducing a number of respectable, and at 
that time wealthy families, to straitened circum- 
stances. Others have felt the effects of that 
outlay to the present time. Much of this 
expense and animosity might have been avoid- 
ed, had wiser council, and a spirit of concilia- 
tion prevailed. These facts may be useful to 
other communities. They are instructive and 
admonitory, and wisdom may be learned from 
the sufferings of others. 

In consequence of the division of the town, 
an Ecclesiastical Council was convened, and 
after a session of two days, they decided to 
divide the Church, and designated the two 
branches, the East and West Churches of Marl- 
boro'. A small majority of the Church was 
connected with the minority of the Society. 

I was settled over the East Church as its first 
Pastor. The Church, at this time, was not in the 
most desirable state. There was but little life or 
9 



u 

activity manifested by the members in the 
cause of Christ. No meeting for prayer and 
religious conference, as far as I could learn, 
had been observed for many years, except the 
preparatory lecture before communion, and pub- 
lic worship on the Sabbath. This state of 
things had continued so long, that there was 
more of the form, than of the power of godli- 
ness, manifest in the Church. This was the 
legitimate effect of the preaching they had 
heard for so long a period. 

For more than twenty years, the Church had 
been under the charge of Rev. Asa Packard, 
an avowed Arminian. And strange to say, 
there does not appear to have been any great 
dissatisfaction with his ministry ; and stranger 
still, when we know that all the officers, and 
some of the lay members, were evangelical in 
sentiment. They, doubtless, were indoctrina- 
ted in their youth, and became pious and 
devout persons, notwithstanding all adverse 
influences. 

That the most prominent and active mem- 
bers of this Church were Orthodox in senti- 
ment, appears from the candidates they em- 
ployed. The late lamented Payson commenced 
his ministry in this place, and there are fruits 



15 

of ■ it remaining to this day. An invitation 
was given to an Orthodox man to become their 
Pastor, which he declined. It is true, that a 
majority of the Society and a minority of the 
Chnrch were opposed to Orthodox preaching. 
A great number of candidates preceded me ; 
those that the Church would have settled, the 
Society opposed, and vice versa. 

When I was employed as a candidate, Prov- 
idence had laid aside by sickness, one of the 
prominent members of the Church, who had 
been uniformly opposed by the Society. He 
heard me preach only a few times previous to 
my invitation to settle, and for prudential rea- 
sons, took no part in my settlement. I was 
afterwards told by my friends, that I owed my 
call to the sickness of this man. 

From what has been observed, it might be 
inferred, that I should have trials and difficul- 
ties to encounter in tlie very outset of my min- 
istry. This was not the case My trials were 
not greater, than are often experienced by my 
brethren in the ministry. I endeavored to 
preach the gospel of Christ, as I understood it, 
w^ith great plainness and simplicity, and to 
" commend the truth to every man's conscience 
in the sight of God." No doctrine or truth 



16 

which was deemed essential to salvation, was 
withheld. 

Early after my settlement, I established a 
meeting for prayer and religious conference, 
which was held semi-monthly, at private houses 
in different parts of the Parish. This was a 
new measure in this place, and was regarded 
by some of my people as of doubtful expedien- 
cy, and they were not slow to tell me so. At 
first it created some alarm, and the observation 
was made by a prominent man, that he would 
rather a fatal epidemic should be introduced 
into the Society, than religious meetings on a 
week day. The great argument urged against 
them was, " Six days shalt thou labor and do 
all thy work." They were continued however, 
and when the people found their fears were 
groundless, the excitement died away. We 
now had a season of peace and religious pros- 
perity, when the " gospel was made the power 
of God unto salvation," and " converts to right- 
eousness were multiplied." Nothing occurred 
to interrupt it, until the controversy arose 
between the Orthodox and Unitarians. 

From the commencement of my ministry, I 
held ministerial intercourse with all the Con- 
gregational ministers in the vicinity. They 



17 

were, at that time, considered evangelical in 
sentiment. A number of years elapsed before 
any minister in this vicinity was suspected of 
being unsound in the faith, or of embracing 
other than evangelical sentiments. The con- 
troversy above alluded to, seemed to throw new 
light upon the Churches. Tbey were led to 
inquire more earnestly, " Whac is truth V — to 
examine more thoroughly the foundation upon 
which they stood. The result showed that 
many of the ministers and Churches in this 
vicinity, and through this State especially, had 
departed from the faith of the Puritans, and 
had embraced error in its diversified forms. 
This led to numerous divisions and separa- 
tions. 

As early as 1818, a number of individuals 
who had never been fully sati-fied with my min- 
istry, and especially with my exchanges with 
Orthodox ministers, withdrevv from my society, 
and with others of simiUr views in this and the 
adjacent towns, were organized into a Univer- 
salist Society. In lS2.i, they built a Meeting 
House, settled a mini ter, and for a few years 
flourished like a greon bay tree. But that 
House has long since been deserted by them, 
and the Society disbanded. 



18 

3. I would mention some obstacles to the 
success of the gospel in this place. The first 
was the size of the Meeting House, which was 
too large for the whole town. Nearly one-half 
of the town seceded to form the West Society ; 
a small number to form the Universalist Soci- 
ety. The number left, although respectable, 
appeared small, scattered over so large a space. 
The House was incommodious and unsuitable. 
Its aspect was forbidding — there was a solitari- 
ness pervading it — a chilliness of atmosphere 
which might be felt in mid-summer, and which 
sensibly affected both speaker and hearer. 
" Thoughts that breathe and words that burn," 
would freeze before they reached the ears of 
the audience. Especially would this be the 
case in mid-winter, for this House was never 
warmed by either stove or furnace. These 
were luxuries unknown in those days. Some 
of my people rode more than four miles to 
meeting, and never went to a fire until they 
returned home. Under such circumstances, 
could it be expected that people would be 
greatly benefitted by the word preached] 
Would it not be an almost insurmountable 
obstacle to the success of the gospel in any 
place ] I considered it one of the greatest with 
which I had to contend. 



19 

Another obstacle was the Half- Way Cove- 
nant. This I found in use when I came here, 
and it was probably introduced at an early peri- 
od in the history of this Church. Any person 
of good moral character might receive this 
Covenant, and have his children baptized. 
Many availed themselves of this privilege, being 
governed, probably, more by custom, than by 
a sense of duty. It was fashionable to present 
their children for baptism, and would be con- 
sidered disgraceful if they did not. True, there 
were some who had such a sense of the impro- 
priety of this practice, that they did not wish 
to avail themselves of the privilege. But on 
those who did, the effect was unfavorable. 
Having performed so much of their duty, they 
thought they might safely neglect the remain- 
der. As they had dedicated their chilnren to 
God, they neglected self-dedication. Their 
consciences were quieted ; they felt at ease, and 
would wrap themselves in a garment of self- 
righteousness. I soon became convinced that 
serious evils attended this practice, and exerted 
my influence to abolish it Some were easily 
dissuaded from it ; others persisted for a time 
in what they considered their duty and privi- 
lege. At length, the Church Committee was 



20 

appointed to examine candidates for this Cov- 
enant, and they soon convinced those who 
offered themselves, that there was no Half- Way 
Covenant between man and man, much less 
between man and God. 

There were other obstacles to the success of 
the gospel in this place, — such as the laxity of 
sentiment and morals, which prevailed. 

To become a christian, and to maintain a 
consistent life, required more than an ordinary 
measure of grace and self denial. Besides the 
opposition which every one finds in his own 
heart, there were here numerous other adverse 
influences, to draw one away from God and 
duty. 

4. I would speak of the support of the gos- 
pel. The salary of my predecessor. Rev. Asa 
Packard, was one hundred pounds, and twenty 
cords of wood, to be paid annually. At that time, 
every tax payer in town was obliged by law, to 
pay his proportion towards the minister's sup- 
port. When I was settled, this was the law 
of the State, and Mr. Phineas Sawyer, of Fel- 
tonville, a Methodist, was the only exception. 
After Mr. Packard had been settled nearly 
twenty years, and his salary had depreciated in 
value, and the expenses of living had increased 



I 



21 

and also his family, he asked for an increase of 
salary, Avhich request was not granted. The 
request was renewed several times, and as often 
refused. The reason assigned for the refusal 
was, the fear of discord and division should 
there be a change in the salary. Soon after 
this, the town expended between thirty and forty 
thousand dollars for Meeting Houses, and paid 
eleven hundred dollars annually for preaching, — 
and this they did most cheerfully. This clearly 
shows what sacrifices will be made to accom- 
plish a favorite object ; what obstacles will be 
overcome which at first view seemed insur- 
mountable. 

In process of time, the law of the state 
respecting the support of public worship was 
modified several times, and at last abolished. 
The effect of this may have been unfavorable 
upon some feeble Churches, but in general, it 
has operated favorably. It has led people to 
place a more just estimate upon the value of 
the gospel, and to make greater sacrifices for its 
support. The voluntary principle, is undoubt- 
edly the true one, with regard to the mainte- 
nance of public worship. 

5. I would next mention some matters relat- 
ing to the Church. For several years after my 



22 

settlement, there was no committee for the 
examination of candidates for admission to the 
Church. This responsibility rested solely with 
the Pastor. If in his judgment, the applicant 
was deemed worthy of admission, he was pro- 
pounded ; a written relation of his religious 
experience was read before the congregation ; 
and after standing propounded two weeks, if no 
objection was made, he was received into the 
Church. I found the responsibility greater 
than I wished to assume, and requested to have 
a committee from the Church chosen to assist 
in examining candidates. Such a committee 
was chosen, and from that time, the Church 
has dispensed with written relations. 

It is believed that this Church was organized 
with a Covenant only, having no distinct 
Articles of Faith, and continued thus until 18f37. 
In that year the Covenant was revised, and 
definite articles of faith adopted, which have 
been used until the present time. 

From what has already been said of this 
Church and Society, it might be inferred that 
great harmony would not prevail in either, but 
this would be a w^rong inference. Although 
there was some diversity of sentiment in the 
Church, yet no dissatisfaction was manifested on 



23 

account of my doctrines, or with my general 
course of procedure. I had no doubt there 
were some in the Church who did not approve 
of my doctrines, but they had the good sense to 
know that what I preached was the truth, or 
the civility to be silent. Knowing their state, 
I could say with the Great Teacher, " I have 
many things to say to you, but ye cannot bear 
them now." I endeavored to lead those who 
differed from me in my religious views, step by 
step, into what I considered the truth. And I 
had the satisfaction to believe, that within a few 
years after I came among them, by the blessing 
of God, nearly all the members of my Church 
harmonized with me in my views of religious 
truth, and that they cordially embraced the 
distinguishing doctrines of the gospel. 

During my ministry of twenty-four years, 
there were two seasons of religious interest ; — 
one in 1809, the other in 1818. In each of 
those years, twenty nine persons were added to 
the Church, who greatly increased its strength 
and influence. 

The whole number admitted during my min- 
istry, was one hundred twenty two, and the 
number of baptisms four hundred and seven. 
Church discipline being deemed important, has 



24 

been maintained in this Church, and several 
persons were excommunicated during my min- 
istry. 

A Sabbath School was established in 1818, 
and has been continued to the present time. 
Improvements have been made in the manner 
of conducting it, and it has proved a great 
blessing to all connected with it. Nearly all 
the accessions to the Church for many years, 
have been from the Sabbath School. Previous 
to its formation, it was my practice to meet the 
children and youth in the several school districts 
in the Parish, once a year, for catechetical 
instruction. 

As early as 1810, this Church commenced 
contributing to benevolent objects, and has since 
contributed with a good degree of liberality. 
The Monthly Concert was early observed. 
Thus for more than twenty years, under the 
care of a kind Providence, nothing unusual 
occurred to interrupt the peace and prosperity 
of the Church. Both Church and Society were 
greatly prospered in their secular interests. 
They were " kept from the pestilence which 
walketh in darkness, and from the destruction 
that wasteth at noon-day." The voice of health 
and rejoicing was heard in their habitations. 



25 

They could truly say, " God hath not dealt 
so with every people, and as for his judgments 
that they had scarcely known them." 

In 1831, new measures were adopted by 
many Churches for the promotion of religion. 
1 refer to protracted meetings. These were 
held in most of the Evangelical Churches in 
this vicinity, where young men had been 
recently settled. These, as they were often 
conducted, were regarded by some as of doubt- 
ful expediency, but by others they were highly 
approved. Doubtless, in many instances, they 
were productive of good ; but after years have 
proved them to be of human rather than Divine 
origin. They were the cause of bringing many 
unconverted persons into the Church, of crea- 
ting uneasiness, and of the frequent dismission 
of ministers. All those in this region who 
were the most favorable to protracted meetings, 
were in a few years dismissed. Formerly, a 
minister spent his days in one place, with one 
people; now, all he can promise himself is, a 
few years, or even months. 

During the year 1831, it was suggested to 

me by some of my friends, that some in this 

Church wished for a change in the ministry. 

This was not unexpected to me, knowing as I 

10 



26 

did the restlessness which existed in many of 
the neighboring Churches. I had long before 
resolved that I would never be burdensome to 
my people, and had learned from high authority, 
that "it is better to leave off contention before 
it be meddled with." Accordingly I yielded to 
my friend's suggestion, and in April 1832, 
asked for a dismission. On the 20th of June, 
an Ecclesiastical Council w^as convened and I 
was dismissed ; retaining all the immunities 
and privileges of a christian minister. From 
the time I came here as a candidate, to the 
time of my dismission, was just twenty-four 
years. During my ministry I had no vacation, 
and can reccollect only two instances, in which 
I failed to supply the pulpit on the Sabbath. 
6. I proceed to give some account of the 
dealings of God with this people after my dis- 
mission. For several months, they were in a 
divided and unsettled state. Mr. Charles For- 
bush, received an invitation from the Church, 
and a minority of the Society, to become their 
Pastor, May 27th, 1833. In this invitation a 
minority of the Church and majority of the 
Society, did not concur. The friends of Mr. 
Forbush, being unwilling to relinquish him, 
withdrew from the Parish ; assumed the name 



21 

of The First Evangelical Congregational Society 
in Marlboro' ; and commenced separate wor- 
ship, being excluded by law from the Meeting 
House. Mr. Forbush was ordained Aug. 21, 
1833. 

In March 1833, a Committee of the First 
Parish applied to me to supply their pulpit for 
one year. This I consented to do, with the 
hope that after mature deUberation, a reunion^ 
of the Church and Societies would take place. 
In this, I was not disappomted ; for in less 
than a year a proposition was made by mem- 
bers of the first Parish for a re-union. On? 
March 12th, 1834, a Council met at the request 
of the two Societies, to consider the expediency 
of dismissing their present Pastor, Rev. C 
Forbush. The result of this Council was his 
dismission on the 26th of the same month, 
having remained here only seven months. 

March 19, 1834. another Council was con- 
vened at the request of the two Societies, 
together with the members of the Churches 
worshipping with each, to give advice and to 
adjust the difficulties (existing between them. 
The result of this Council was an amicable 
adjustment of all difficulties, and the presenta- 
tion of a petition to the Legislature to incor- 



28 

porate the two Societies into one, — to be called 
the Union Society. The request of the peti- 
tioners was granted. Another Council was 
soon after called to give advice and to recommend 
terms of union between the two Churches. 
This was eminently successful in re-uniting 
them in the bonds of peace and fellowship. It 
is believed that nothing has since occurred to 
render the name Union Church and Society 
inappropriate. 

In Oct. 1834, the Church invited the Rev. 
Joseph Fuller to become their Pastor ; but he 
returned a negative answer. 

In the Spring of 1836, the Society voted to 
take down the large Meeting House and erect 
a new one on the same site, of more suitable 
dimensions. This House was dedicated Sept. 
15, 1836. In the same year, Mr. John N. 
Goodhue received an invitation to become Pas- 
tor of this Church and Society, and was 
ordained as such. May 4, 1837. He was re- 
moved by death after a ministry of three and 
a half years. His removal was a heavy bereave- 
ment. Mr. Goodhue w^as a man of great prom- 
ise. He possessed a rare combination of those 
traits of character, which were calculated to 
render him a useful and successful minister of 



29 

Christ/ He was much endeared to his people, 
and will long be affectionately and gratefully 
remembered by them. 

In 1840, Mr. Joseph A. Saxton w^as invited 
to settle in this place, but declined. The same 
year, Mr. George E. Day received a call from this 
Church and Society and was ordained December 
2. After a pastorate of seven years, he was invi- 
ted to the Edwards Church in Northampton, and 
was dismissed December 23, 1847. 

Kev. David L. Ogden accepted an invitation 
to become the Pastor of this people, lie was 
installed April 26, 1848, and dismissed July 
23, 1850. There were causes which operated 
to render his ministry unhappy to himself and 
his people. He was settled upon the injudi- 
cious plan of "six months notice." After his 
dismission, the pulpit was supplied from August 
1, 1850 to April 1853 by Rev. Geo. Den- 
ham. In 1852, the Society voted to paint their 
Meeting House, and make all necessary repairs. 
This they did at an expense of more than one 
thousand dollars. When completed and ready 
for use, the House with its Organ, Clock, Bell 
and Books, was consumed by fire. This 
occurred early in the evening of November 10, 
1852, and whether accidental or occasioned by 
10* 



30 

the torch of the incendiary, is unknown. 
There was only a small insurance on the House. 
This loss was viewed as a great calamity by 
some, and with despondency, but the Society 
soon resolved that the House of the Lord 
should be rebuilt. " They had a mind to 
work ;" and the commodious House in which 
we are now assembled, was erected the next 
year, at an expense exceedmg ten thousand dol- 
lars. The excellent bell which notifies us of 
the hour of worship, was presented to the Soci- 
ety by the late Dea. David Goodale. The 
clock which adorns the gallery of the orches- 
tra, w^as presented by a member of this Church, 
Nicholson B. Proctor, Esq., this being the sec- 
ond gift of the kind from the same benevolent 
individual. The clock in the Vestry was giv- 
en by Dea. Wm. Stetson. Both organs which 
have discoursed sweet music to us, were pro- 
cured by subscriptions from the ladies and gen- 
tlemen in the Society. 

On the 30th of May 1853, Mr. Levi A. Field 
received an invitation to become the Pastor of 
this Church and Society. He gave an affirma- 
tive answer, and his Ordination and the Dedi- 
cation of the Church took place, August 31, 
1853. 



31 

Thus it appears that Eev. Mr. Field is my 
fifth successor in the ministry in this place. 
Two of these have long since finished their 
labors on earth and entered upon the rewards 
of the just. This people have been under the 
discipline of Divine Providence, and joy and 
sorrow have followed each other in quick 
succession. They have passed through many 
trying scenes ; their fondest hopes have been 
blasted; their brightest prospects, cut off; yet 
they can truly say that light has arisen out of 
darkness, good out of apparent evil, and that 
events which seemed adverse, have been so 
overruled by Divine Providence as to promote 
their highest good. 

7. Many improvements have been made dur- 
ing the period now under review. When I 
came to this town fifty years ago, most of the 
houses were unpainted, floors uncarpeted, and 
rooms but dimly lighted. Now we seldom see 
a house unpainted, or an uncarpeted floor, and 
in some of our dwellings, the darkness of night 
is turned into day by the brilliant gas-light. 
The huge fire-place and settee within it which 
would accommodate one-half of the family, 
have given place to the neat grate, stove, fur- 
nace, or steam apparatus. Great improvements 



a2 

have been made in roads, carriages, and modes 
of transportation. The first rail-road in this 
country was built less than fifty years since. 
Now these roads are common everywhere, and 
we have more than enough in this place. 
There have been improvements made in our 
burial grounds. A pleasing change has taken 
place within a few years, but there is still room 
for a much <;reater change in this place. 

The facilities enjoyed by the youth of both 
sexes for the acquisition of knowledge, have 
greatly increased. The systems of education 
in our common schools and higher seminaries 
have changed. Female Seminaries have been 
established within the last twenty-five years. 
Colleges have greatly increased within fifty 
years. At the commencement of this century 
there were but twenty-five, now there are more 
than one hundred and twenty-five Colleges and 
Universities. We have now more than forty 
Theological Institutions, twelve Law-Schools, 
and about forty Medical Schools. 

There have been numerous scientific discov- 
eries and inventions during the last half cen- 
tury ; such as steam power, railway, and tele- 
graph. We have various labor-saving machines 
in almost all kinds of business. These are of 



33 

great importance to the manufacturer, and agri- 
culturist, as one man can perform the labor of 
twenty or fifty men. 

Some of our customs and habits have im- 
proved. Formerly, intoxicating liquors were 
freely used by all classes in the community. 
They were deemed necessary and indispensable 
for the laboring classes. They were used on 
joyous and on solemn occasions, at all social 
gatherings ; and it was considered a breach of 
hospitality not to present them to our friends. 
This practice has long since ceased in all good 
society, and we wonder that it ever prevailed. 
It is thought by many, that our progress has 
been retrograde in reference to family instruc- 
tion and government ; to obedience and respect 
to parents and superiors. The change is lamen- 
table, and should lead parents seriously to 
inquire into the cause of this departure from 
the example of our fathers. The Sabbath is 
not as strictly observed as it formerly was, 
and many now make it a holiday. 

8. I will next mention some of the changes 
which have taken place among us during the 
last fifty years. '' One generation passeth away 
and another generation cometh." Instability is 
written upon all terrestrial objects. Man is 



34 

not an exception. Every member of the Coun- 
cil at my Ordination has long since passed 
away. Few only who witnessed the services of 
that occasion, are among the living. Most of 
those who were active in my settlement are 
numbered with the dead. Only six heads of 
families, then married, are now living among 
us. Instead of the fathers are the children, 
and children's children. 

The Church has not been exempt from the 
ravages of time. Its former officers, venerable 
for age and for piety, are gone ; and but one 
who was a member* of the Church when I 
became its Pastor, remains to testify to the 
faithfulness of her covenant God and Savior. 
Many who have since united with the Church 
have died. 

Death has recently invaded our ranks, and 
called away an honored officer of this Church. 
Dea. David Goodale was the first person who 
proposed this celebration. He had important 
facts to communicate, unknown to others, and 
had his life been spared, he would have added 
greatly to the interest of the occasion. But 
God required his service in another part of his 
kingdom. AVe bless God that he was spared 

*Mrs. Sarah Stowe. 



35 

so long to his family, and to this Church and 
Society, and that he was permitted to do so 
much for its establishment and prosperity. 

The members of " The Marlboro' Associa- 
tion," with which I was connected, with one 
exception,* have ceased from their labors. 
Many who succeeded them have been removed 
by death, or have gone to other fields of labor. 

It is believed that no Orthodox Congrega- 
tional minister in this County, has been settled 
in one place fifty years, who now has the sole 
charge of a people. There are in the State, 
eight or nine Congregational clergymen, who 
were settled fifty years since, who still hold the 
Pastoral office, though in most cases they have 
colleagues, and are released from service. The 
number in New England who have remained 
half a century in one place, and are still in 
active service, is small. If we look among men 
of other professions — among statesmen who 
have been most distinguished for their useful- 
ness, we shall see that great changes have 
taken place. Men may be exalted in station, 
in honor, and trust, but death invades their 
ranks and lays them low in the dust. " I have 
said ye are gods, but ye shall die like men." 

*Ilev. John B. Wight, of Wayland. 



36 

9. The condition of our country and some 
important events which have taken place within 
the last fifty years, demand a passing notice. 
Our country during this period has been unpar- 
alleled in its increase of wealth and numbers ; 
in its progress in the arts and sciences ; 
and in efforts to improve the condition of the 
race. Many benevolent societies have com- 
menced their operations during the present cen- 
tury. Successful efforts have been made to carry 
civil, intellectual, and christian culture, into 
Asia, Africa, and the Islands of the sea. Much 
has been done to remove social and moral evils, 
and to purify the fountains from whence they 
sprang. Many philanthropists have arisen, 
whose lives and labors have been devoted to 
human welfare. They have been stars in the 
moral firmament, and have shed their radiance 
far and wide. Their names and their deeds 
will long be remembered, and transmitted as a 
rich legacy to posterity. 

Widely different has been the condition of 
Europe, during the last fifty years. While we 
have enjoyed almost uninterrupted peace and 
prosperity, the old world has been engaged in 
war and blood-shed. Nations have risen and 
fallen ; empires have been lost and won ; kings 



37 

and emperors have been dethroned ; conquest 
has followed conquest; and blood has flowed 
freely as water, to gratify the ambitious pur- 
poses of men. But these revolutions we believe 
have given an impulse to the cause of liberty ; — 
have led men to understand more perfectly their 
rights and their duties. It is only through 
sufl*ering, that nations as well as individuals, 
are prepared for the acquisition, appreciation, 
and enjoyment of the greatest blessings. But 
there are two events which remain to be men- 
tioned, which distinguished the year 1^58. 
First, the Atlantic Telegraph. This is the 
greatest enterprise of the age, and promises the 
happiest results, whether viewed in a commer- 
cial, political, or religious aspect. Only a few 
of the benefits of this achievement can at pres- 
ent be conceived. God will reveal them to us 
in due time. The other event to which I refer, 
is the extensive Revival of Religion, which has 
pervaded our land. This has been most em- 
phatically a year of the right hand of The Most 
High — one of surpassing interest to the Church 
and to the world. God has revealed his love 
and power in glorious manifestation as never 
before known. With no special means em- 
ployed ; without exciting influences to awaken 
11 



38 

feeling ; the word of God has gone forth in the 
silent majesty of truth, conquering and to con- 
quer. Its trophies have been multipli d all 
over the land, from every class, condition, and 
character. '1 he Spirit of God has wrought 
these wonders of mercy and grace. To Him be 
all the praise. 

In reviewing the past, I feel that I have 
great reason for gratitude to God, that my life 
has been prolonged ; for the health I have 
enjoyed, and for other distinguishing favors. I 
feel grateful that I have been permitted to 
preach the gospel of Christ, and as I humbly 
trust, not wholly without effect. Although I 
lament my many deficiencies, I rejoice that I 
have not labored in vain. I review with pleas- 
ure the system of doctrines and duties which I 
preached, and believe them the same which 
were taught by Christ and his apostles. They 
are the only doctrines which God has promised 
to bless to the saving benefit of man. They 
have been increasingly precious to me since the 
commencement of my ministry, and were I 
permitted to commence again, I should endeavor 
to preach substantially the same truths, and 
enforce them by the same motives. I rejoice 
that the gospel is still preached in its purity 



39 

and in great faithfulness in this place. So may 
it ever continue to be, and become " the power 
of God unto salvation" to multitudes yet unborn. 

It has been said (and with some truth I fear) 
that dismissed ministers make the most trou- 
blesome parishioners It is with satisfaction 
that I can appeal to each of my successors now 
living, to prove that there are exceptions to 
this remark. 

'I he intercourse between them and myself, 
and between our familif^s, has always been most 
cordial and friendly, and I have endeavored to 
co-operate with them in advancing the cause of 
Christ. 

I would gratefully acknowledge the kindness 
and respect shown by this people to myseU* and 
family; their sympathy in seasons of sorrow: 
it has been a balm for our wounds, and a cor- 
dial for our tears. It has greatly endeared 
them and our home to us, and my heart's desire 
and prayer to God is, that they may be rewarded 
an hundred fold, and inherit everlasting life. 

This Church and people have great occasion 
for gratitude to God. You have not been led 
by a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night ; 
but the hand of Providence is conspicuous in 
every period of your history, especially during the 
last half century. In that time you have expe- 



40 

rienced numerous changes ; some joyful, others 
sorrowful : you have been tried with prosperity, 
and with adversity ; but all these trials have 
been overruled for your good. God has been 
your Leader and Guide. He has led you in 
the right way. You have been greatly blessed 
in enjoying the uninterrupted ministration of 
the gospel for so many years. You and your 
children, have had opportunity to avail jour- 
selves of its inestimable blessings. 

Few persons have been so highly favored : 
few have enjoyed so much external prosperity. 
This has never been greater than it is at the 
present time. Remember then all the way in 
which the Lord has led you, and let this remem- 
brance lead you to the exercise of love, grati- 
tude, and obedience. 

To conclude. Brethren and Friends, I con- 
gratulate you on your present prosperous con- 
dition ; on being blessed with an efficient min- 
istry ; with the constant preaching of the 
gospel, and with other means of spiritual cul- 
ture ; with the success which has attended 
them, accompanied by the influences of the 
tloly Spirit. The contrast between your pres- 
ent and former condition, is to me, most strik- 
ing. You have not onlv increased in numbers, 
but as I believe, in spirituality. You are more 



41 



deeply rooted and grounded in the truth, and 
possess more as I trust of the requisite qualifi- 
cations for the Heavenly Inheritance. See to 
it, that you do not forget the Author of all your 
blessings ; that you suitably appreciate and 
wisely improve the price put into your hands, 
for getting wisdom. 

The years roll on ; and with us, they soon 
pass away. How few of those who worshipped 
with us fifty years ago now survive, and how 
few now present will live to see the close of this 
century. Soon, risen and succeeding genera- 
tions will tread upon our ashes, as we have trod- 
den upon the ruins of departed years. Soon 
shall we all pass away like a dream and be for- 
gotten : soon Eternity will be present with all 
its realities. 

What then is our wisdom 1 To hearken to 
the voice of God; to "fear Him and keep His 
commandments." If we receive instruction 
from Him and obey Him, we shall obtain the 
great object of life ; a part in the resurrection 
of the just; a part which will survive the rav- 
ages of Time and Death, and the wreck of 
worlds ; and which will secure for us a dwell- 
ing place " in the new heavens and the new 
earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 
11* 



APPENDIX. 

It will be proper in this connection, to give a brief 
sketch of the circumstances which led to this celebration, 
and also of the order of exercises on that day. Early in 
the year 1858, the following Paper was presented to Rev. 
Mr. Bucklin, signed by forty four of the leading members 
of this Society. 

" Rev. S. F. Bucklin : 

Dear Sir, — The second day of November next, will 
complete half a century, since you were ordained as pas- 
tor of this church and people. Though a number of years 
have elapsed since you retired from the active duties of 
the ministry, still jou have from time to time discharged 
the functions of the sacred office ; and occasionally you 
have filled the place of a pastor and teacher among us — 
administering the sacred ordinances, and mingling with us 
in scenes of joy and sorrow. We are unwilling that an 
anniversary of so much interest to us and to you, should 
pass over, without some proper notice of the event, and 
without giving us occasion to manifest to you our personal 
regard. e, therefore, the undersigned, in accordance 

with what we believe to be the unanimous wish of this 
Church and Society, invite you to meet us on that day, and 
give us some reminiscences of the last fifty years, and 
receive from us some token of affectionate interest and 



43 

Mr. Bunkliii having signified his willingness to comply 
with their request, a committee was chosen, consisting of 
Dea. David Goodale, Dea. William Stetson, Stephen 
Morse, Esq., Mr. Dwight Witt, and Mr. William Wilson, 
to make arrangements for celebrating the day. As the 
annual State election occurred on the second day of the 
month, the exercises of this occasion were deferred to the 
third day of November, when a large audience assembled 
from this and the adjoining towns, completely filling every 
part of the church. The order of exercises on the occa- 
sion was as follows : 

Voluntary on the Organ. 

Singing, — Anthem for Easter. 

" The Lord is risen indeed. Hallelujah." 

Invocation and Reading of the Scriptures, 

By Rev. W. A. Houghton. 

Singing, — 121st Psalm 3d pt (Church Psal.) Tune, Lenox. 

*' To God I lilt mine eyes.'' 

Prayer,— By Rev. J. C. Webster. 

Singing, — 575 Hymn — Tune, Confidence. 

*' Thou, Lord, through every changing Scene." 

Sermon, — By Rev. S. F. Bucklin. 

Prayer, — By Rev. Joseph Allen, D.D. 

Singing, — 685 Hymn — Tune Old Hundred. 

" Eternal God ! I bless Thy name." 

(The whole Congregation united in singing this Hymn.) 

Benediction, — By Rev. Dr. Allen. 

At the close of the religious services, the congregation 
resumed their seats to witness the following ceremony. 
The table in front of the pulpit had been tastefully orna- 
mented with flowers, and in the center of it stood a beau- 
tiful Silver Pitcher, bearing the following inscription : 



44 

To 

Rev. SYLVESThR F. BUCKLIN, 

Ordained as Pastor of the 

First Church and Society in Marlborough, 

Nov. 2d, 1808, 

Presented by his Friends and Former Parishioners, 

as a token of their respect and affection, 

Nov. 2d, 1858. 

The Pitcher was presented to Mr. Bucklin, at the re- 
quest of the Committee of Arrangements, by the pastor 
of the Church, and in doing it, he addressed him as follows : 

Revekend and Respected Sir : 

Before we separate on this occasion, your friends 
and former parishioners wish to present you with some 
substantial token of their regard. The hours of this 
day will soon be gone. The friends who have 
gathered here to meet you will return to their homes, and 
this season will live only in the memories of those who 
have shared its festivities. But we wish to leave behind 
us some more enduring memorial of the scenes of this 
hour ; something that shall outlast the present, and out- 
live the generation of your early companions who are so 
rapidly passing away ; something that shall remain when 
you are gone, and be eloquent to those who come after 
you of the respect and affection which greet you here 
to day. 

It is the wish of the Committee of Arrangements, that 
I should present to you this testimonial ; and also that I 
should express in their behalf the sentiments which this 
community feel towards you, and which prompt them to 
this act. And you well know, Sir, why this duty devolves 



45 

on me, and not on another. You well know that I occupy 
a place which another was expected to fill, who, alas, is 
with us no longer. It is the only shadow which darkens 
the gladness of this occasion, that he should be absent 
who had so long anticipated and labored for it ; who had 
known you well for half a century ; and who was prepared 
to speak of your upright and consistent course, and your 
claims to our affectionate regard. It was almost the only 
earthly enterprise which he had planned but was not per- 
mitted to complete ; the thought of it haunted him by 
day and by night, in health and in sickness ; and it is 
strange indeed, that he should come so near to this occa- 
sion which he had so long desired to see, and yet die with- 
out the sight But of the sentiments, or remembrances, or 
congratulations which he wished to express, we know noth- 
ing ; he has died and made no sign ; and all those treas- 
ured memories must be reserved for the companionship of 
the skies. 

It is a pleasant fact that the mind so readily loses the 
unpleasant features of the period through which it has 
passed. The dark scenes fade from the memory and the 
bright ones only remain. Those which were full of dis- 
couragement and perplexity, will brighten with the lapse 
of time, and finally appear serene and peaceful amid the 
gathering mists of years. And it is our wish to recall only 
such scenes as you would love to remember ; to bury eve- 
rything which might seem unpleasant or unfriendly ; to 
bridge over every chasm which may have been created ; 
and to link back this day, to the second day of November 
of hall a century ago. There are some things. Sir, which 
we cannot change. We cannot bring back the friends of your 
youth. We cannot remove the impress which years have 



46 

left upon your frame We cannot efface tlie inscriptions 
which time has written upon your forehead. We cannot 
change the silver light of those grey hairs which are 
whitening into a crown of glory. But we can gather 
around you with words of cordial welcome which will 
make your heart feel young again, and which will bring 
back into your thoughts the pleasant memories of buried 
years. 

We extend to yon. Sir, o^ir kindest and warmest wel- 
come. We congratulate you on the signs of affectionate 
regard, which are manifest around y m. We bless God 
that he has spared your life to see this day. Only a few 
live to the close of half a century of ministerial service ; 
and fewer still, after having retired for a quarter of a cen- 
tury from the active duties of the ministry, are met with 
so many tokens of affection as meet you on this occasion. 
We all know how liable a minister, in leaving his profes- 
sion, is, to sink in the estimation of the community at 
large. But your course. I rejoice to say, has been such as 
to command the respect of all classes. You have always 
been a peace-maker ; you have ever sought to promote the 
best interests of this church and people ; you have always 
been a pastor to these families whenever they needed your 
assistance ; you have shared their joys, sympathized in 
their sorrows, and in times of sore bereavement, your heart 
has gone down with them into the graves of their dead. 
And your successors in the ministry have always found in 
you a firm friend and an active assistant, and some of us 
have found you a father in co'insel and in kindness ; but 
never have we had reason to feel that you sought to injure 
our influence or counteract our usefulness. 

We bless God therefore, not only for the fruits of your 



47 

active ministry, but also for the christian example of your 
retired ministry. I know whereof I affirm in these state- 
ments, and [ rejoice to bear this testimony which is just 
and true. This case deserves to be held in honorable and 
lasting remembrance, as one instance, where a retired min- 
ister has not only retained, but has increased and deep- 
ened the respect and affection of his people. Your course, 
Sir, has been a living witness for the cause of Christ and 
will not soon be forgo^.ten. And we rejoice that we are 
permitted this day to give you the pleasing evidence 
that we appreciate the nobleness and consistency of your 
life. 

And not you Sir, only, do we welcome on this occasion 
of rejoicing. You come not here alone. We rejoice that 
she too is spared to see this day — the companion of almost 
half a century, — the sharer of your joys, your trials, and 
your hopes, — she, who has borne by your side the heat and 
burden of the day, and whose presence as wife and mother 
has cheered your home so long. We welcome you both 
to this season of social gladness and festivity. The fathers 
and the mothers ; the grey-haired sires and the little chil- 
dren ; the young men and maidens, rise up to greet you 
and to welcome you here. 

You will see here only a few of those faces which you 
looked upon fifty years ago. Instead of the fathers, are 
the children. Here and there is one whose silver locks 
remind us of three-score years and ten, and perhaps four- 
score years : but almost the whole generation has passed 
away, and now they sleep by the sepulchres of their fath- 
ers. Those, who then presided over these households and 
welcomed you to their firesides, have left their names and 
their places to those on whom you set the seal of the Gov- 



48 

enant in their infant years. You have stood by the dying 
beds of these fathers and mothers ; your prayer^ and words 
of consolation have strengthened their faith and hope; 
you have followed them down into the valley of death, and 
have caught the last farewell from those now sainted lips. 
No, Sir, these families do not remain the same unbroken 
groups as yoa foand them; and it is for your sym- 
pathy in their trials, for the kindness with which you stayed 
the trembling steps of aged parents as they went down to 
the grave, that the children now rise up and bless you 

And your own beloved family circle has not been passed 
over. The darkness of the shadow of death has rested 
upon your householi, and left there the traces of loss and 
sorrow. As I recall that catalogue of names so familiar 
to your ear, and so deeply engraven on your memory, I 
find that they are not all here ; no, not all. As you gather 
that gro'ip around you to-day, to give them a father's bene- 
diction ; you will find some vacant seats, some silent voices, 
some haunting remembrances of vanished forms, which 
come no more to greet you. No, Sir, you are not all 
here ; you never can be all here again ; you must hence- 
forth remain a broken band, a divided family, until you all 
rest side by side with yonder generations of sleeping dust. 

But time is passing, and I may not linger. This testi- 
monial, which we desire to present you, we hope will be 
acceptable of itself, and still more acceptable from th e 
feelings which go with it. It has not been obtained by a 
few liberal contributions, but by the individual gifts of a 
large number. I speak not therefore for the few, but 
for the many ; the whole community feels an interest in it ; 
it is the united and unanimous expression of this whole 
people, of the manner in which they respect and cherish 



49 

you. It is full of their warmest wishes and earnest 
prayers for your future welfare, and the fondest hopes that 
your life may be continued yet long among us in the beau- 
ty and freshness of a green old age. And finally, when 
the silver cord shall be loosed and the golden bowl shall 
be broken ; when the pitcher shall be broken at the foun- 
tain, and the wheel be broken at the cistern, — may it come 
upon you so gently, that you shall go down to your rest 
like a shock of corn fully ripe in its season, and ripe too 
for the rewards and the glories of eternal life beyond. 

In the name then of these your friends and former 
parishioners, I now present you this testimonial of their 
sincere and affectionate regard. Receive it. Sir, I entreat 
you, as a freewill offering of our hearts — as only a feeble 
expression of the respect we so deeply feel. Let it always 
be present at your family gatherings ; let it ever adorn 
your festive board ; let it gladden all the scenes of your 
future rejoicing ; and let it go down to your children, and 
to your children's children, as a token of the respect and 
affection which we cherish for their father. 

Mr. Bucklin, in receiving the Pitcher, made the follow- 
ing response : 

Permit me. Dear Sir, through you, to express to my 
friends my obligations for tins unexpected testimonial of 
their friendship and respect. They need not be told that this 
day is one of deep and tender interest to me ; that it brings 
fresh to my recollection events that have transpired since 
my residence among them — various scenes of joy and sor- 
row in which we have mutually participated — when we 
have rejoiced with those who rejoice, and wept with those 
who wept. And, Sir, it is peculiarly gratifying to me to 
12 



50 

know, that some of my early friends still remember me, 
and are disposed to cast tlie mantle of charity over my 
many imperfections, and to speak words of affection and 
Idndness concerning mc ; and that later friends have aris- 
en, taking the places of those who have passed away, who 
are disposed to manifest the same friendly feelings. 

Nothing earthly gives such a charm to life, such a solace 
and support under trials, as to know that we enjoy the 
affection and confidence of those among whom we dwell. 
During the years of my ministry, I enjoyed the respect 
and esteem of an affectionate people. But alas ! most of 
them have been called away. And now, after a quarter of 
a century had elapsed since my pastoral relation to this 
people had been dissolved, and I had mingled with them 
in the common transactions of life, that those who remain, 
in connection with a new generation that have grown up, 
should unite to make me this freewill offering, you may 
well suppose is truly gratifying. It is gratifying to know, 
that this is not the act of an individual, nor of a few 
special friends, — but that it is the act of earlier and later 
friends, of those within and those without this So- 
ciety. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, I most cordially thank you for 
this testimonial of respect. I would assure you that I 
appreciate it for its intrinsic worth ; but especially as a 
token of affectionate and grateful remembrance. Of this, 
then, it shall ever be a memento to myself and to my wife, 
to my children and to my children's children. And now 
my friends, may we all fill up life with duty and fidelity in 
our several stations, that we may all be so unspeakably 
happy as to be gathered to our Father in peace, and with. 
the joyful hope of a blessed immortality. 



51 

I wlsli also to acknowledge on this occasion the recep- 
tion of another testimonial of kind remembrance. This 
beautiful Cane which I hold in my hand, has been pre- 
sented to me by Mr. John B. Clark and Brothers of Wor- 
cester, as a token of their personal regard. This gift I 
esteem very highly, because it comes from the dcscendents 
of pious ancestors who were members of my Church ; who 
were bright examples of piety, and whom I always regarded 
as my personal friends. The name of Clark will long 
continue to be a cherished name in this community. And 
I shall not soon forget, that your sainted Mother on her 
dying bed gave me a testimonial of her personal regard, 
by constituting me a life member of one of our most im- 
portant benevolent Societies. 

Gentlemen, please accept my cordial thanks for this most 
appropriate gift — a staif for me to lean upon in my old 
age. Permit me to express a desire that you may walk in 
the footsteps of honored and pious ancestors; that the 
graces and virtues which adorned their characters may be 
copied into your own ; and that you may become followers 
of those who through faith and patience, have gone to 
inherit the promises. 

At the close of these exercises, the congregation were 
all invited to repair to the vestries of the church, and partake 
of a collation. This was provided by the younger mem- 
bers of the Society, who manifested both their taste and 
liberality in the arrangement and supply of the tables. 
The social interview which followed was a delightful fea- 
ture of the occasion. Opportunity was given for the 
renewal of friendships, which had been partially suspended 
by the separation of many years. And it was interesting 



a^- 
^ 



52 



to witness the greetings exclianged between former com- 
panions after years of absence ; between the revered Pastor 
and his many friends who had assembled from this and 
neighboring towns to meet and rejoice with him. Every 
person seemed to enter into the spirit of the occasion ; 
and every countenance, from the oldest to the youngest, 
was beaming w^ith gladness. This part of the exercises 
was interspersed with excellent singing, and with interest- 
ing addresses, by Rev, Dr. Allen, Rev. Mr. Webster, Rev. 
Mr. Houghton, and also by Rev. Messrs. Alger, Day, and 
Wakefield — pastors of the different churches in this town. 
After several hours spent in this manner, the large assembly 
gradually dispersed, and thus closed the celebration of this 
Fiftieth Anniversary. And it is not too much to say, that 
this church has not for many years, if ever, witnessed a 
more interesting occasion. The event reflects honor alike 
on the respected former Pastor, and on the people who so 
freely and generously offered to him these tokens of their 
regard. 



